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23  WES7  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  W.V.  1   ^? 

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L<s> 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 
D 
D 
D 
D 
D 

n 
n 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 

Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagie 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur6e  et/ou  pelliculie 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relid  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serr6e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout^es 
lors  d'une  lestauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl6mentaires; 


L'institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-6tre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 


I      I   Coloured  pages/ 


v 


D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 


□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pelliculdes 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  ddcolordes,  tachetdes  ou  piqudes 


I      I    Pages  detached/ 


Pages  d6tach6es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualiti  in^gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppldmentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


r~~]  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

nn  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I      I  Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partieliement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6ti  filmies  A  nouveau  de  facon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous 

10X                             14X                              18X                             22X 

26X 

SOX 

1 

v/ 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Th«  copy  film«d  h«r«  has  b««n  raproducad  thanks 
10  tha  ganarosity  of: 

University  of  Britiih  Columbia  Library 


L'axamplaira  f ilmA  fut  raproduit  grAca  k  la 
gAnirosit*  da: 

University  of  British  Columbia  Library 


Tha  imagev  appaaHng  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  considaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacif ications. 


Las  imagas  suivantas  ont  At*  raprcH*)itas  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattatA  da  l'axamplaira  filmA,  at  an 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covars  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  imprab- 
sion,  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copias  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion,  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illustratad  imprassion. 


Tha  last  racordad  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"). 
whichever  applies. 


Les  exempl'.ires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim6e  sont  filmte  en  commenpant 
par  la  premier  plat  at  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
darnlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iilustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  las  autras  axemplaires 
originaux  sont  fiimAs  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iilustration  at  en  terminant  par 
la  derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symbol r;  3uivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  chaque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  —v^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  ara  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartas,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diff Arents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  il  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  dt'oite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'imagas  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


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!  |-Wij!»""i*fi  V  'i!i>'!il?*r^  ."^'▼n;'^ — 


COMPLETE  HISTORY 

or 


EMBRACING 


A   GREAT  VARIETY    OP   INFORMATION    AND   COMPILED 

WITH   AN    ESPECIAL   REFERENCE   TO   MEET 

THE   WANTS   OF   THE 

TRAVELLING    COMMUNITY; 

,       INTENDED   AS  ▲ 

DESCRIPTIVE  GUIDE : 

TOGETHER   WITH  A 

COMPLETE  HISTORY  AND  PRESENT  APPEARANCE 
OF  TICONDEROGA. 

BT    HENRY    MARVIN. 


NEW-YORK: 

SIBELLS    &    MAIGNE,    PRINTERS, 
11    Spruce   Street, 

18  53. 


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'  ■""'?"'■'*■"— ^ipp^im—p 


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Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1853. 

By  IV.  JB.  &  J.  SIBKLL., 

in  the  Clerk's  ofiSce,  of  the   District  Court  of  the  United 
States  for  the  Southern  District  of  New-York. 


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3?l,Bl*ll@B 


IN  submitting  this  little  volume  to  the  considera- 
tion of  an  intelligent  public,  I  trust  I  have  made  such 

a  presentation  as  will  meet  the  approbation -of  all 
those  who  indulgently  peruse  its  pages.     The  design 

of  this  little  work,  is  to  present  to  the  reader,  and  to 
convey  as  accurately  as  possible,  a  full  and  complete 
history  of  Lake  George ;  embracing  every  possible  ob- 
ject of  interest  connected  with  its  history,  its  islands, 
mountains,  and  legendary  associations  ;  together  with 
the  graver  details  of  history.  In  fact,  every  thing 
which  I  judged  as  likely  to  enhance  the  interest  of  its 
pages.  ''"  ''■''"''■  ''■"■■-■'"■'"• 

Our  knowledge  of  the  past,  is  necessarily  derived 
from  the  information  of  others ;  and  while  I  have  been 
benefited  by  their  researches,  I  deem  it  but  an  act  of 
courtesy  to  acknowledge  the  obligation,  which  I  be- 
lieve I  have  invariably  done.  I  have  not  deemed  it 
necessary  to  present  sketches  of  the  scenes  I  have  at- 
tempted to  describe — only  prefacing  the  work  with  an 


sm 


IV. 


PREFACE. 


■■t; 


excellent  map — from  the  fact,  they  are  too  familiar  to 
most  travellers,  and  more  particularly  so,  because  art 
furnishes  but  a  poor  and  inaccurate  portraiture,  where 
nature  is  so  beautifully  displayed.  "  ^" 

It  would  be  unjust  in  me  to  conclude  this  simple 
introductory,  without  returning  my  sincere  thanks 
to  MosEs  Harris,  Esq.,  patriarch  of  the  Lake,  to 
whose  knowledge  and  experience  for  sixty  years 
past,  I  am  in  the  main  indebted,  for  much  of  the  ma- 
terials of  this  little  volume.  * 

The  best  tribute  of  thanks  that  I  can  offer  him,  for 
he  is  now  far  ''in  the  sear  and  yellow  leaf,"  is  the 
heartfelt  wish,  that  his  **  eve  of  life"  may  be  as  serene 
as  the  morn  was  bright  and  joyous.  ^ 

If  these  pages  afford  to  the  reader,  but  half  the  plea- 
sure I  derived  from  hearing  the  story  of  the  Lake,  as 
told  by  my  venerable  informer,  together  with  the  ad- 
ditional pleasure  of  its  compilation,  it  will  have  per- 
formed its  pleasing  office,  and  fully,  and  most  satisfac- 
torily, requited  the  labors  of  the 

AuTIiOR. 


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CONTENTS, 


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CHAPTER  I. 


I  *■■■•««    ^'i 


Pag*. 


Introductory— Glenn'B  FaU»— Description  of  the  Falls — Bloody 
Pond — Battle  of  Lake  George,  Sept.  8, 1753 — Anecdote  of 
Ilcndrick,  the  Indian  Sachem 7 

CHAPTER  II.        '  i 

Hotels — General  Remarks  in  regard  thereto 22 

CHAPTER  III. 
The  Attractiveness  of  Lake  George 25 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Warren  County— Its  Boundarien — Caldwell — Lake  George— IHs- 
tory — Its  French  and  Indian  Names 30 

'        '*  ''^  CHAPTER  V.  ^ 

Massacre  at  Fort  William  Henry — Montcalm's  Defeat  on  St. 
Patrick's  Day — Lieutenant  Stark's  Gallantry — Montcalm's 
successful  Attack  and  Demolition  of  the  Fort.  AuguRt, 
1757— Indian  Ferocities— The  Remains  of  the  Fort— The 
Spirit  of  Vandalism — Fort  George,  its  present  appearance — 
Fort  Gage. . .  v 35 


I 


CHAPTER  VI. 

The  appearance  of  the  Lake  tempered  hy  the  Element? — ^The 
echos  produced  by  the  sound  of  the  human  voice  and  by 
the  discharge  of  Musketry — The  Amusements  of  Visitors — 
Its  Sailing  Advantages — Fishing — Interesting  remains  to  bu 
seen — 'Relics  frequently  found 44 


t. 


VI. 


CONTENTS. 
CHAPTER  VII. 


Pag* 


Remarks  on  Trarel-^The  Steamboat  John  Jay—Future  groTtth 
of  Lake  George  as  a  Summer  Resort— A  Description  of  the 
Islands  and  Mountains  on  the  Lake,  together  ^ith  their 
Names  and  all  the  Historical  and  Legendary  associations 
connected  with  them,  and  the  trip  to  old  "  Ty." CI 

CHAPTER  VIII.  v;        V 

A  Description  ot  the  Fortress  of  Tiqondcroga— Its  History  and 
present  appearance — Abercrombie's  Attack  on  Ticondero- 
ga,  July  8,  1758 — His  Defeat'— Anecdote  of  young  Lord 
Howe 72 

CHAPTER  IX. 

The  causes  trhich  Induced  the  commencement  of  Hostilities— 
The  zeal  of  the  Americans — An  Explanation — Account  of 
Colonel  Ethan  Allen's  Capture  of  Ticonderoga «••..•  81 

CHAPTER  X. 

A  Description  of  ;he  Ruins  as  now  represente«l-»-InttfrestIng 
localities  described — Vandalism,  its  effects— Lcssing's  Pic- 
torial Field  Book  of  the  Revolution •  .  . . .  00 

CHAPTER  XI. 
Evacuation  of  Ticonderoga  by  Qeneral  St.  Clair,  July  6th,  1777.  94 

CHAPTER  XII.                            4^     -h 
A  word  at  Parting 100 


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■         CHAPTER  FIRST. 

Introductory  —  Glenn*s  TFalls — ^Description  of 
THE  Fall8  —  Bloody  Pond  —  Battle  op  Lake 
George,  Sept.  8,  1755 — Anecdote  op  Hendri^':, 
the  Indian  Sachem.  ^  i 


I 


JsUi»:  ■/.*L- , 


;..,»>' 


[ear  Reader  : — Consider  me 
as  the  viewless  spirit  of  a 
fkind  informer,  and  as  such, 
allow  me  to  travel  incognito 
with  you,  through  the  scenes 
our  Guide  Book  may  describe.  Shall 
I  make  the  salutation  at  ''  Ty,"  or  at 
Moreau  Station,  the  depot  where,  from 
the  cars,  in  flaming  capitals  meets  the 
eye,  *'  Plank  Road  to  Lake  George !''  The 
old  stage  coach,  despite  the  elegancies  of 
art,  still  maintains  its  primitive  simplicity, 
and  in  this  age  of  steam,  and  "  fast  contri- 
vances," is  it  not  a  pleasant  change  from  the 


8 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  OEOROE. 


din  and  noise  of  cars,  to  the  easy  rolling  of 
the  swinging  coach  ?  At  the  station,  coaches 
from  the  two  hotels,  the  United  States,  and 
the  Lake  House,  are  in  readiness  to  convey 
passengers.  The  ride  to  the  lake  is  exceed- 
ingly pleasant ;  formerly  it  was  a  very  tire- 
some and  fatiguing  journey.  The  soil,  com- 
posed of  a  loose  sand,  rendered  it  tedious 
and  perplexing  in  the  extreme,  and  company 
from  Saratoga  were  a  whole  day  in  making 
the  journey  to  the  lake.  Now  we  travel  over 
a  good  plank  road,  which  extends  as  far  as 
Chester,  and  through  a  wild  and  almost 
unbroken  region  of  country,  which  from 
its  variety  and  picturesqueness  of  scenery, 
greatly  relieves  the  tediousness  of  travel. 
But  the  progress  of  art,  in  conformity 
with  the  progressive  spirit  of  the  age,  will 
soon  send  the  rattling  car  on  its  impetu- 
ous way,  and  the  iron  horse,  superceding 
every  convenience  of  travel,  will  soon 
make  our  stage  route  "  among  the  things 
that  were."  Five  miles  from  the  station 
is  Glenn's  Falls,  situated  upon  the  high, 
left  bank  of  the  Hudson,  fifty-three  miles 


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I 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  OEORQE.  9 

from  Albany,  and  seventeen  from  Saratoga. 
It  received  its  name  from  Mr.  Glenn,  the 
first  settler,  and  is  now  one  of  the  most  en- 
terprising villages  in  the  State.  The  bridge 
we  cross,  is  nearly  600  feet  long,  resting  in 
the  centre  upon  a  marble  island,  and  from 
its  centre  there  is  a  fine  view  of  the  falls. 
These  falls  have  a  total  descent  of  about 
seventy  feet ;  the  water  flows  in  one  sheet 
over  the  brink  of  the  precipice,  900  feet  in 
length,  and  when  in  full  flood,  rushes  in  one 
mass  down  the  cataract,  producing  to  the 
beholder,  a  grand  and  imposing  spectacle. 
In  ordinary  seasons,  t!:e  river  is  divided  at 
the  falls  into  three  channels  by  locks  piled 
in  wild  confusion  and  beautifully  carved  and 
polished  by  the  rushing  waters.  These  falls 
have  evidently  receded  from  a  position  lower 
down  the  stream.  The  banks  below  are  in 
some  places  seventy  feet  in  perpendicular 
height,  formed  of  rocks,  and  are  beautifully 
stratified*  Many  fossils  are  imbedded  in 
the  rocks,  among  which,  the  trilobite  is  quite 
plentiful.  Among  the  rocks  below,  are 
what  is  termed  "  big  snake,"  and  the  "  In- 


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10 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  OEOROE. 


dian  cave  ;"  the  former  is  a  petrifaction  on 
the  surface  of  a  flat  rock,  representing  the 
appearance  of  a  huge^ serpent,  the  latter  ex- 
tends through  the  small  island,  from  one 
channel  to  the  other,  and  is  pointed  out  as 
the  place  where  figured  the  young  heroines 
of  Cooper^s  "  Last  of  the  Mohicans."  The 
natural  music  of  the  falls  might  have  chimed 
in  pleasing  accordance  with  the  pitch-pipe 
of  David,  and  the  "  Isle  of  Wight,"  for  here 
Uncas  the  last  of  the  Mohicans  advised,  and 
Hawk  Eye  kept  his  vigils. 

Leaving  the  Falls,  for  there  is  nothing 
further  to  interest  or  amuse,  our  attention 
is  not  again  particularly  engaged,  until  we 
arrive  within  about  two  miles  of  the  lake, 
where  we  may  observe  on  the  right  hand 
side  of  the  road,  a  small  slimy  pond,  called 
"  Bloody  Pond."  It  is  near  300  feet  in  di^ 
ameter,  presenting  no  attraction,  but  is  me- 
morialized in  history  as  being  near  the  battle 
ground  where  Williams  and  his  men  were 
slain.  It  received  its  name  from  the  num- 
ber of  corpses  thrown  into  it,  giving  to  the 
water,  as  tradition  avers,  a  bloody  hue. 


vs 


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-0 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  GEOROB. 


11 


The  celebrated  battle  of  Lake  George, 
on  September  8,  1755,  was  fought  in  the 
vicinity  of  "  Bloody  Pond."  The  battle  was 
between  the  provincial  troops  under  Major 
General,  afterwards  Sir  William  Johnson, 
aided  by  a  body  of  Indians  under  Hendrick, 
the  Mohawk  chieftain,  and  a  body  of  French 
Canadians  and  Indians,  under  Baron  Dies- 
kau,  a  French  nobleman  ;  the  baron  em- 
barked at  Fort  Frederick,  at  Crown  Point, 
with  2000  men  in  batteaux,  and  landed  at 
Skeensboro',  near  Whitehall.  Having  un- 
derstood that  Johnson  lay  carelessly  en- 
camped at  the  head  of  lake  George,  he  de- 
termined to  attack  him.  The  following 
account  of  the  conflict  that  ensued,  is  given 
by  Dr.  Dwight,  who  received  much  of  his  in- 
formation from  eye  witnesses  of  the  action  : 

On  the  night  of  Sunday,  September  7,  at 
12  o'clock,  information  was  brought  that  the 
enemy  had  advanced  four  miles  on  the  road 
from  Fort  Edward  to  Lake  George,  or  half 
way  between  the  village  of  Sandy  Hill  and 
Glenn's  Falls.  A  council  of  war  was  held 
early  in  the  morning,  at  which  it  was  resolv- 


-Q 


^BB 


Ifi 


mSTOBY  OF  LAKE  GEORGE. 


ed  to  send  a  party  to  meet  them  ;  the  num- 
ber of  men  determined  upon  at  first  was 
mentioned  by  the  general  to  Hendrick,  and 
his  opinion  was  asked ;  he  replied,  "  If 
they  are  to  fight  they  are  too  few,  if  they 
are  to  be  killed  they  are  too  many."  The 
number  was  accordingly  increased.  Gen- 
eral Johnson  also  proposed  to  divide  them 
into  three  parties.  Hendrick  took  three 
sticks  and  putting  them  together,  said  to 
him.  "put  these  sticks  together  and  you 
can^t  break  them,  take  them  one  by  one,  and 
you  will  break  them  easily."  The  trick 
succeeded,  and  Hendrick's  sticks  saved  the 
party  and  probably  the  whole  army  from 
destruction.* 

*  A  singular  instance  of  artfulness  is  related  of  Hendrick  which 
I  extract  from  '•  Lossing^t  Pictorial  Field  Book  of  the  Revolution.^* 
Sir  William  Johnson  obtained  from  Hendrick  nearly  one  hundred 
thousand  acres  of  choice  land  now  lying  in  Herkimer  county,  north 
of  the  Mohawk  in  the  following  manner :  The  sachem  being  at  the 
baronet's  house,  saw  a  richly  embroidered  coat  and  coyeted  it. 
The  next  morning  ho  said  to  Sir  William,  "  Brother,  me  dream  last 
night ;"  "Indeed,"  answered  Sir  William,  "what  did  my  red  bro- 
ther dream'"  "Me  dream  that  coat  be  mine."  "It  is  yours," 
said  the  shrewd  baronet.  Not  long  afterward  Sir  William  risited 
the  sachem,  and  he  toe  had  a  dream.  "  Brother,"  he  said,  "  I 
dreamed  last  night."  "  What  did  my  pale  brother  dream  ?"  asked 
Hendrick.    "  I  dreamed  that  this  tract  of  land  was  mine,"  describ- 


i! 
i 


^ 


I 


-5 


num- 
t  was 
:,  and 
,  "If 
tbey 
The 
Gen- 
)  them 
three 
aid  to 
d  you 
ae,  and 
3  trick 
sred  the 
from 


rick  whicli 
[evolution. ^^ 
le  hundred 
»ty,  north 
jlng  at  the 
ioveted  it. 
(dream  last 
ly  red  bro- 
isyoura," 
^am  visited 
^e  eaid,  "I 
';"  asked 
I, '  descrlb- 


HISTORY  OF   LAKE   GEORGE. 


13 


The  party  detatched  consisted  of  1,200, 
and  were  commanded  by  Col.  Ephraim 
Williams,  a  brave  and  skilful  ofl&cer,  greatly 
beloved  by  the  soldiery,  and  highly  respect- 
ed by  the  country  at  large.  Lieut.  Col. 
Whiting,  of  New  Haven,  was  second  in  com- 
mand and  brought  up  the  rear.  Col.  Will- 
iams met  the  enemy  at  Eocky  Brook,  four 
miles  from  Lake  George  ;  Dieskau  had  been 
informed  of  his  approach  by  his  scouts  and 
arranged  his  men  in  the  best  possible  order 
to  receive  them,  extending  his  line  on  both 
sides  of  the  road  in  the  form  of  a  half  moon. 
Johnson  did  not  begin  to  raise  his  breast- 
work until  after  Williams  had  marched,  nor, 
as  a  manuscript  account  of  this  transaction 
now  before  me  declares,  until  after  the  ren- 
counter between  Williams  and  the  enemy 
had  begun. 


■-•itM.- 


■'W:''~s  ;^i.' 


'4\' 


ing  a  square,  bounded  on  the  south  by  the  Mohawk,  on  the  east 
by  Canada  Creek,  and  north  and  west  by  objects  equally  well 
known.  Hendrick  was  astonished  ;  he  saw  the  enormity  of  the 
request,  but  was  not  to  be  outdone  in  generosity.  He  sat  thought- 
fully for  a  moment,  and  then  said,  "  Brother  the  land  is  yours,  but 
you  must  not  dream  again."  The  title  was  confirmed  by  the  Brit- 
ish government  and  the  tract  was  called  the  Koyal  Grant. — Simms* 
Scohtnie  County,  p.  124.       ■<-    -     ^  ',*;*  :-  \  ^^f   ' 


HPffpgf^ 


? 


s\ 


14 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE   OEOROB. 


"Williams  marched  his  men  directly  into 
the  hollow  of  the  half-moon  ;  this  will  be 
explained  by  the  fact  that  the  whole  coun- 
try was  a  deep  forest.  When  the  enemy 
saw  them  completely  within  his  power,  he 
opened  a  fire  of  musketry  on  the  front  and 
on  the  flanks  of  the  English  at  the  same 
moment,  and  they  fell  in  heaps,  and  at  the 
head  of  them  their  'gallant  commander. 
Hendrick,  also,  was  mortally  wounded, 
fighting  with  invincible  courage  in  the  front 
of  his  people  ;  he  was  shot  in  the  back,  a 
fact  which  filled  him  with  disdain  and  an- 
guish, as  he  thought  he  should  be  believed 
to  have  fled  from  the  enemy.  The  truth 
was,  the  horns  of  the  half-moon  were  so  far 
advanced,  that  they  in  a  great  measure  en- 
closed the  van  of  the  English  and  fired 
upon  them  from  the  rear.  From  this  fire 
Hendrick  received  the  wound  which  termi- 
nated  his  life. 

Upon  the  death  of  Col.  Williams,  Lieut. 

Col.  Whiting  succeeded  to  the  command  of 

the  detachment.    He  was  an  officer  of  great 

.  merit  and  gained  much  applause  at  the  re- 

V • 


r^ 


T 


^     HISTORY  OP   LAKE   GEORGE.  15 

duction  of  Louisburg ;  and  iti  cbhSeq'is^ftce 
of  his  gallant  conduct  at  4^t  seige,  had 
been  made  a  captain  in  th6  n^lar  British 
service.  Whiting,  seeing  the  danger  of  his 
men,  immediately  ordered  a  retreat,  and 
conducted  it  so  judiciously,  that  he  saved 
the  great  body"  of  them  from  destruction, 
in  circumstances  of  extreme  peril,  in  which 
their  own  confusion  and  alarm  and  the  sit- 
uation of  the  ground  threatened  their  exter- 
mination, no  less  than  the  superior  numbers 
of  the  enemy.  The  noise  of  the  first  fire 
was  heard  at  Lake  George ;  efforts  began 
then  to  be  made  in  earnest  by  the  General 
for  the  defence  of  the  camp,  and  a  party  of 
300  men  were  despatched  under  Lieut.  Col. 
Cole,  to  support  the  retreating  corps.  A 
few  stragglers,  both  English  and  Indians 
came  into  the  camp  and  announced  what  had 
indeed  been  already  sufficiently  evident, 
from  the  approaching  sound  of  the  musketry, 
that  the  ij'rench  army  was  superior  in  num- 
bers and  strength  to  Col.  Williams'  corps, 
and  was  driving  them  towards  the  camp. 
Some  time  after,  "  the  whole  party  that  es- 


^. 


'I 


-d 


w 


16 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE   GEORGE. 


W' 


caped,"  says  Gen.  Johnson,  "came  in  in  large 
bodies,"  a  decisive  proof  of  the  skill  and 
coolness  with  which  Lieut.  Col.  Whiting 
conducted  this  retreat.  These  men  also  ar- 
ranged themselves  in  their  proper  places 
and  took  their  share  in  the  eagagement 
which  followed.  About  half  after  11  o^clock, 
the  enemy  appeared  in  sight,  marching  up 
the  road  in  the  best  order,  towards  the  cen- 
tre of  the  English.  When  they  came  to  the 
bottom  of  an  open  valley  directly  *n  front 
of  the  elevation  on  which  Fort  George  was 
afterwards  built,  and  on  which  the  centre  of 
the  English  army  was  posted,  Dieskau  halt- 
ed his  men  about  fifteen  minutes  at  the  dis- 
tance of  little  more  than  150  yards  from 
the  breast- work.  I  have  never  seen  a  rea- 
son assigned  for  this  measure,  but  I  think 
I  can  assign  one  ;  the  Indians  were  sent  out 
on  the  right  flank  and  a  part  of  the  Cana- 
dians on  the  left,  intending  to  come  in  upon 
the  rear  of  the  English,  while  the  main  body 
attacked  them  in  front.  The  ground  was 
remarkably  favorable  to  this  design,  being 
swampy,  thickly  forested,  and  therefore  per- 


&I8T0RT  OP  LAKE  GEORGE. 


17 


fectly  fitted  to  conceal  the  approach  of  these 
parties*  The  Indians,  however,  were  soon 
discovered  by  Lieut.  Col.  Pomeroy,  who  im- 
mediately mentioned  the  fact  to  the  Gen- 
eral; and  observing  to  him,  that  these  people 
were  extremely  afraid  of  cannon,  requested 
that  one  or  two  pieces  might  be  pointed 
against  them.  They  were  then  near  the 
ground  on  which  Fort  William  Henry  was 
afterward  built.  The  General  approved  of 
the  proposal.  A  shell  was  instantly  thrown 
among  them  from  a  howitzer,  and  some 
field-pieces  showered  upon  them  a  quantity 
of  grape-shot.  The  Indians  fled.  The 
Baron,  in  the  meantime,  led  up  his  main 
body  to  attack  the  centre.  They  began  the 
engagement  by  firing  regularly  in  platoons, 
but  at  so  great  a  distance  that  they  did  very 
little  execution.  This  circumstance  was 
favorable  to  the  English,  and  soon  recover-, 
ing  from  the  panic  into  which  they  had  been 
thrown  by  the  preceding  events  of  the  day, 
they  fought  with  great  spirit  and  firmness. 
General  Johnson,  at  the  commencement 
of  the  battle,  received  a  flesh  wound  in  his 


*©- 


18 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE   GKOROE. 


thigh,  and  the  ball  lodged  in  it.  He  bled 
freely,  but  was  able  to  walk  away  from  the 
army  to  his  tent.  General  Lyman  then 
took  the  command  and  continued  in  it 
during  the  action.  This  gentleman,  who 
v^  seemed  to  have  no  passions,  except  those 
which  are  involved  in  the  word  humani- 
ty, immediately  stationed  himself  in  front 
of  the  breast-work  ;  and  there,  amid  the 
thickest  danger,  issued  his  orders  during 
five  hours  to  every  part  of  the  army,  as  oc- 
casion demanded,  with  a  serenity  which 
many  covet,  and  some  boast,  but  very  few 
acquire.  The  main  body  of  the  French 
kept  their  ground  and  preserved  their  order 
for  a  considerable  time,  but  the  artillery, 
under  the  command  of  Captain  Eyre,  a 
brave  English  officer,  who  performed  his 
part  with  much  skill  and  reputation,  played 
upon  them  with  such  success,  and  the  fire 
from  the  musketry  was  so  warm  and  well 
directed,  that  their  ranks  were  soon  thinned 
and  their  efforts  slackened  sufficiently  to 
show  that  they  despaired  of  success  in  this 
quarter.    They  then  made  another  effort 


r  ii 


lU, 


^ 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE   OEOROE. 


19 


against  the  right  of  the  English,  stationed 
between  the  road  and  the  site  of  Fort 
William  Henry,  and  composed  of  Ruggles' 
regiment,  Williams',  now  commanded  by 
Lieut.  Col.  Pomeroy,  and  Titcomb's.  Here 
a  warm  fire  was  kept  up  on  both  sides 
about  an  hour  ;  but  on  the  part  of  the 
enemy  was  unavailing.  At  4  o'clock,  the 
English  and  the  Indians  who  fought  with 
them,  leaped  over  their  breast-work  and, 
charged  the  enemy.  They  fled,  and  were 
vigorously  pursued  for  a  short  distance. 
A  considerable  number  were  slain  in  the 
pursuit.  The  wounded,  and  a  very  few 
others,  were  made  prisoners  ;  among  these 
was  Dieskau.  He  was  found  by  a  soldier, 
resting  on  a  stump,  with  hardly  an  attend- 
ant. As  he  was  feeling  for  his  watch,  in 
order  to  give  it  to  the  soldier,  the  man  sus- 
pecting that  he  was  searching  for  a  pistol, 
discharged  the  contents  of  his  musket 
through  his  hips.  He  was  carried  into  the 
camp  in  a  blanket  by  eight  men,  with  the 
greatest  care  and  tenderness,  but  evidently 
in  extreme  distress.    Hendrick  had  lived  to 


6- 


20 


HISTORY  OF  LAKB  GBOAOE. 


this  day  with  singular  honor,  and  died 
fighting  with  a  spirit  not  to  be  excelled. 
He  was,  at  this  time,  from  60  to  66  years  of 
age  ;  his  head  was  covered  with  white 
locks,  and  what  is  uncommon  among  In- 
dians, he  was  corpulent.  Immediately  be- 
fore Colonel  Williams  began  his  march,  he 
mounted  a  stage  and  harangued  his  people. 
He  had  a  strong  masculine  voice,  and  it  was 
thought,  might  be  distinctly  heard  at  the 
distance  of  half  a  mile  ;  a  fact  which  to  my 
own  view  has  diffused  a  new  degree  of 
probability  over  Homer's  representations 
of  the  effects  produced  by  the  speeches  and 
shouts  of  his  heroes.  Lieut.  Col.  Pomeroy, 
who  was  present  and  heard  this  effusion  of 
Indian  eloquence,  told  me  that,  although  he 
did  not  understand  a  word  of  the  language, 
yet  such  was  the  animation  of  Hendrick, 
the  fire  of  his  eye,  the  force  of  his  gesture, 
the  strength  of  his  emphasis,  the  apparent 
propriety  of  the  inflections  of  his  voice,  and 
the  natural  appearance  of  his  whole  man- 
ner, that  himself  was  more  deeply  affected 
with  this  speech  than  with  any  other  which 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  OEOROE. 


21 


he  had  ever  heard.  In  the  Pennsylvania 
Gazette,  Sept.  25, 1755,  he  is  styled  "  the 
famous  Hendrick,  a  renowned  Indian  war- 
rior among  the  Mohawks ;"  and  it  is  said 
that  his  son  being  told  that  his  father  was 
killed,  gave  the  usual  Indian  groan  upon 
such  occasions,  and  suddenly  putting  his 
hand  on  his  left  breast,  swore  that  his 
father  was  still  alive  in  that  place,  and  that 
there  stood  his  son.  Baron  Dieskau  was 
conveyed  from  Albany  to  New- York,  and 
fi.  ^m  thence  to  England,  where,  soon  after, 
he  died. 


Q- 


^• 


CHAPTEE  SECOND. 


"  Not  placid  Leman,  where  I've  late  been  straying, 
Nor  gifted  Pliny -s  wild  tumultuouH  lake, 
Nor  magiore  round  its  inlands  pltiying ; 
More  beautious  visioas  in  the  mind  awake 
Than  thou  fair  Horicon  !  whose  waters,  bright 
And  pure,  and  holy,  now  first  greet  my  sight." 


Hotels — General  Remarks  in  regard  thereto. 

WO  hours  ride  brings  us  in 

view  of  the  romantic  waters 

of  Lake  George,  and  now 

that  our  journey  is  nearly 

ended,  we  must  consult  our 

whereabouts  to  dine  ;  for  our  ride  is 

an  encourager  of  dinner,  or,  if  late 

in  the  day — 

'•Timid  Nature's  sweet  restorer,  balmy  sleep  I" 
iuvites — 

There  are  two  good  hotels  at  the  Lake, 
"  the  United  States"  and  the  "  Lake  House." 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  OEOROB. 


23 


The  "  Lake  House,"  situated  ou  the  west 
side,  in  the  village  of  Caldwell,  is  long 
established  and  favorably  known  to  trav- 
ellers ;  but  the  increase  of  visitors  has  in- 
duced the  construction  of  the  new  hotel, 
the  "  United  States,"  erected  on  the  cast 
side.  Pleasantly  situated  on  a  high  bluif,  a 
projection  from  the  main  land,  it  is  unques- 
tionably admitted  as  commanding  the  finest 
view  of  any  point  on  Lake  George.  Dia- 
mond Island,  Dome  Island,  Long  Island  and 
Northwest  Bay,  are  conspicuously  in  view, 
together  with  Tongue  Mountain  and  others 
of  equal  celebrity.  The  house  is  located 
in  a  beautiful  forest  grove,  is  easy  and  ac- 
cessible of  communication,  built  and  furnish- 
ed in  modern  style,  and  with  every  possible 
regard  to  taste  and  convenience.  The  piaz- 
zas to  this  house  are  unsurpassed  for  ele- 
gance, and  commend  themselves  to  the  lover 
of  nature  for  the  fine  view  to  be  obtained 
from  them.  Bells  on  the  approved  tele- 
graphic plan  communicate  with  every  room 
in  the  house — a  desideratum  much  needed 
in  our  summer  houses.    Baths,  conveniently 


■o 


24 


HidlORY  OP  LAKE  GEORGE. 


•1 


arranged,  are  connected  with  the  house. 
It  is  distinctly  wished  by  the  author,  as 
honestly  due  to  the  travelling  public,  to 
state,  that  both  houses  have  equal  facilities 
of  communication.  Sensible  travellers,  rea- 
sonably imagine,  that  a  good  hotel  desirous 
of  popularity,  must  of  necessity  have  good 

facilities  of  communication.  Both  of  the 
houses  at  the  Lake,  are  in  this  respect  emi- 
nently favored. 

Travellers  for  the  north  are  conveyed  by 
the  excellent  steamer  "  John  Jay,"  which 
leaves  the  head  of  the  Lake  every  morning 
at  7  o'clock,  while  those  southward  bound, 
are  taken  over  the  same  road  which  has 
brought  us  thus  far.  -      .,   ^^^  ^ 


■*Vi.T 


■/  ••  *>■ 


r/ 


^ 


-XO^ 


D^ck- 


1  -  i^-   f.  tx-M 


7 


CHAPTER  THIRD. 


"  I  care  not  Fortune  what  you  do  deny, 
Yon  cannot  rob  me  of  free  Nature's  grace  : 
You  cani  jt  shut  the  windows  of  the  sky, 
Through  which  Aurora  shews  her  brightening  face  ; 
You  cannot  bar  my  constant  feet  to  trace 
The  woods  and  lawns  by  living  streams  at  ere — " 


The  Attractiveness  op  Lake  George. 

"^  HE  idea  of  sublimity,  and 
the  love  of  the  beautiful,  is 
so  congenial  to  every  hu- 
man breast,  acting  in  such 
perfect  accordance  with 
every  ennobling  faculty  of  a  rational 
mind,  that  the  true  realization  of  the 
pleasure,  has  no  appropriate  channel 
for  expression,.  The  ingenuity  of 
art,  the  mechanism  of  man's  devices,  may 
surprise  and  create  astonishment,  but  the 
stupendous  vastn3ss,  and  immensity  of  na- 


c^- 


26 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  GEORGE. 


ture's  works,  produce   far    different,  and 
more  ennobling  feelings. 

We  enjoy  the  entertainment  of  tlie  mind 
when  it  feasts  on  objects  of  natural  beauty, 
and  we  gaze  .with  almost  a  reverential  awe 
upon  the  scenes  and  localities  which  history 
has  memorably  described.  To  an  imagina- 
tion active,  and  an  observation  quickened 
by  the  perceptive  teachings  of  nature, 
what  a  store  house  of  knowledge  can  the 
mind  accumulate  from  the  rich  fields  of 
historic  truths.  The  love  of  the  beautiful 
and  the  picturesque,  is  heightened  and  in- 
creased by  the  stirring  events  which  may 
have  formerly  introduced  the  feeling,  and 
the  scenes  where  courage  and  bravery  have 
proved  their  might,  are  powerful  incentives 
to  awaken  a  more  endearing  feeling.  Our 
senses  may  be  absorbed  in  the  contempla- 
tion of  nature^s  bea.  ty  with  but  perhaps 
no  association  to  allure  our  thoughts,  while 
some  sterile  and  almost  forbidden  waste, 
thick  with  the  association  of  past  events, 
becomes  deeply  and  romantically  attractive. 

Thus  it  is,  that  Lake  George  with  its  thou- 

, : ( 


.bWlllM 


HISTORY  OP  LAKE  GEORQE. 


27 


sand  natural  advantages,  bears  a  ten  fold 
more  increasing  attractiveness  from  its 
deep  and  interesting  historical  associations. 
In  tlie  Colonial  wars,  as  well  as  in  the 
war  of  our  Revolution,  no  island  jutting 
so  fairy  like  from  its  caverned  depths,  but 
has  been  the  theater  of  some  military  ex- 
ploit, while  every  mountain  top  has  been 
made  the  scat  of  some  fabulous  and  over- 
ruling deity.  Is  it  not  a  glorious  sight,  and 
one  calculated  to  aw^aken  earnest  and  heart- 
felt emotions  of  pleasure  as  we  gaze  upon 
the  silvery  lake  which  spreads  so  beauti- 
fully its  waters  before  us  ?  What  a  deep 
quiet  rests  on  its  mirrored  bosom,  and  how 
securely  float  the  tiny  barks  which  from 
their  very  buoyjincy  "  seem  as  if  suspended 
in  mid-air."' ''  ^••:t^r^i^'>jv:.'.  '■yu.n.A  \<^  ••■  /^/n  m 

"  Billows  I  there's  not  a  wave !  the  waters  spread      4  v  .' '  f ' 
One  broad,  unbroken  mirror  ;  all  around 
Is  hushed  to  silence — silence  so  profound 
That  a  bird's  carol,  or  an  arrow  sped 
Into  the  distance,  would,  like  'larum  bell 
Jar  the  deep  stillness  and  dissolve  the  ^pcll." 
Misf  *''■■;     I.--,.-  'Iji    ;«      jr     'i'^,  Park  Benjamin. 

Is  it  possible  that  these  peaceful  waters 
now  so  securely  slumbering,  once  cradled 


-J 


28 


HIBTOBY   OF    LAKE   GEORGE. 


Upon  their  quiet  bosom  hostile  armies,  and 
that  these  hills,  lifting  so  proudly  their 
summits  into  the  blue  vault  above  us,  as  if 

to  ShOWt.^      .;^.^:»^^?y• 
"  How  earth  may  pierce  to  Heaven,  yet  leave  vain  man  below," 

have   echoed,   and  re-echoed,  to  the  war- 


whoop  of  the  revengeful  savage  *i 


? 


Look  now  abroad — another  race  has  filled       *' 
These  populous  bordevs — wide  the  wood  recedes, 

.■    And  towns  shoot  up  and  fertile  plains  are  tilled ;  . 

The  land  is  full  of  harvests  and  green  meads  ; 

'    Streams  numberless,  that  many  a  fountain  feeds,    . 
Shine,  disembowered,  and  give  to  sun  and  breeze 
Their  virgin  waters  ;  the  full  region  leads 
New  colonies  forth,  that  toward  the  western  seas 
Spreads,  like  a  rapid  flame  among  the  autumnal  leaves.~J3r]/anf . 

f  The  march  of  civilization  and  refinement 
has  converted  the  stormy  conflict  of  tumultu- 
ary war,  into  the  gentler  virtues  of  hus- 
bandry and  peace,  which,  now  in  a  measure, 
make  these  hill  tops  and  valleys  productive 
and  fruitful.  But  nature  has  secured  her 
fortresses  on  the  mountain  side,  and  the 
wild  stalking  deer  seeks  her  covert  in  her 
mountain  fastnesses  as  confidently  as  of  yore. 
There  is,  and  ever  will  be,  the  same  poetic 
beauty  and  imagery  which  characterizes  her 


— ij 


HISTORY  OP   LAKE   GEORGE. 


29 


T 


mountain  scenery,  for  the  progress  of  art  is . 
only  stimulated  by  pecuniary  gain,  and  here 
she  can  never  reap  a  fair  equivalent.  Thus 
it  is,  that  these  wooded  steeps  will  ever 
bear  the*  impress  of  nature's  originality, 
and  will  continue  to  wear  and  to  preserve 
the  drapery  which  the  fairy  charm  of  time 
so  mystically  weaves  about  them.      ■  f  *^     ^ 

...  -.:      'V'-'  i"     ■(  T- 


::5»f,  ■■.- 


-\v 


*..)..-» 


^.^■V.        r  • 


-m::^. 


.^ 


t-'-:l-i 


i  %?ii '.- 


I  •  1  *. 


:i  ■•<if  •   }-i 


'iru\   'iU   •:■•; 


i>j  '    ' 


■    "i    ^  ,  ■  - 


;?,    '/■■;      '.'       > 


*  i' :    ' 


■'^''  !»    ■• ). 


•i.  ■     * 


,^-  V  ^;!A:Ha0  ; 


Q. 


t  fY'lF 


Gi 


M  '       ,      Ml. 


iv 


'iiS'S':\- 


't 


nm     i  ^  ^      CHAPTER  FOURTH. 

Warren  County  —  Its   Boundaries — Caldwei  l — 
Lake  George — History — Its  French  and  Indian 

ARREN  County  was  taken 
'from  the  northwest  part  of 
Washington  county  in  1813. 
It  is  principally  situated  on 
the    west    side    of    Lake 
George,    centrally  ;   distant    from 
New- York  240,  and  from  Albany 
75  miles  ;    greatest  length,  north 
and  south,  forty-four  miles  ;  great- 
est breadth,  east  and  west,  forty 
miles  ;  with  the  exception  of  a  small  dis- 
trict on  the  southeast,  the  whole  county  is 
mountainous.     The   mountains,   which   arc 
of  primitive  formation,  are  covered  with  a 
heavy  growth  of  trees,  and  contain,  it  is 

said,  abundance  of  iron  ore  of  good  quality, 

^ . , 


? 


EIL — 

NDIAN 

'    !i 
■     .•  ». 

taken 
irt  of 
1813. 
:ed  on 
Lake 
from  I 
Ibany 
north 
rreat- 
forty 
dis- 
ty  is 
arc 
ith  a 
it  is 
lality, 


HISTORY    OP    LAKK   GEORGE. 


31 


i 


but  have  very  small  portions  of  arable  soil. 
The  valleys,  which    are  narrow,  contain 
some  fertile  alluvion,  on  secondary  lime- 
stone.   The  country  embraces   about  half 
I  of  the  Horicon  or  Lake  George,  the  greater 
part  of  Schroon  Lake,  the  whole  of  Brant 
Lake  and  many  smaller  ones.    Caldwell, 
the    shire    town  of    Warren  county,  was 
organized  in  1810,  and  named  in  honor  of 
James  Caldwell,  Esq.,  a  principal  proprie- 
tor and  benefactor.    With  all  due  deference, 
the  village   itself  furnishes  no  attraction, 
and  has  been  subjected  to  no  great  improve- 
ment for  many  years.     It  presents  no  par- 
ticular advantages  for  a  future  growth,  and 
with  the  exception  of  summer  residences, 
will  probably  remain  in  its  same  quiescent 
and  comfortable  state.    Lake  George  is  in- 
deed a  beautiful  sheet  of  water.  '    « * 

"  There  is  a  maf^net-like  attraction  in  ' '   :  i 

These  waters  to  the  imaginative  power  ,.   ^  ; 
{t  "^  *  1 1  i'  V     That  links  the  viewless  with  the  visiblo, 

j^  J ,  ,  i     And  pictures  things  unseen/'             1 1    ',> '  •  ■'  ■  > '  ' ' 

Its  scenery  is  unsurpassed,  and  excelled 
by  none  in  the  world.  Its  waters  empty 
northward  into  Lake  Champlain  at  Ticon- 


32 


1 


HISTORY   OP   LAKE   GEORGE. 


"^  5;' 


deroga.  Along  its  whole  length  of  thirty- 
three  miles,  (and  not  thirty-six,  as  is  gener- 
ally stated,)  it  is  numeroulsy  interspersed 
with  islands,  most  every  one  of  which  is 
clustered  with  historic  associations.  There 
are  estimated  365  islands  in  the  lake  ; 
which  number  is  somewhat  exaggerated, 
but  it  must  be  borne  in  mind,  that  there  are 
many  projections  from  the  main  land  which 
have  no  appearance  of  an  island,  and  yet 
virtually  are  so.  It  has  an  average  breadth 
of  two  miles  ;  four  miles  being  its  greatest 
width.  It  is  220  feet  above  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  and  300  above  tide  water.  Its 
waters  are  very  deep  and  clear  ;  the  aver- 
age depth  being  120  feet.  The  bed  of  the 
lake  is  of  a  yellowish  sand,  and  the  water 
is  so  transparent  that  a  white  object  may  be 
seen  at  the  depth  of  near  forty  feet. 
Schroon  and  Brant  lakes  are  beautiful  sheets 
of  water,  and  abound  with  fish  similar  to 
Lake  George.  The  scenery  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  lake  is  of  the  most  wild  and  pictur- 
esque character.  A  range  of  mountains 
rises  to  the  westward,  the  highest  of  which 

^- "  ■      ■  « 


Q 


HISTORY   OP   LAKE  OEOROE. 


83 


is  Prospect  or  Rattlesnake  Hill,  having  an 
elevation  of  1500  feet ;  to  the  eastward 
rises  a  range  of  mountains,  a  continuous 
chain,  and  designated  as  the  French  Moun- 
tains. Prom  the  summit  of  Rattlesnake 
Hill  a  fine  view  of  the  lake  can  be  obtained, 
but  the  fear  inspired  from  its  "  crawling 
denizens,"  who  make  bold  to  visit  near  the 
abodes  of  men,  intimidates  most  travellers 
from  toiUag  its  weary  ascent.  The  view 
from  Prench  Mountain  is  immensely  grand, 
and  there  is  no  fear  of  the  senses  being 
chilled  by  an  informal  visitation  from  his 
most  "  Gracious  Snakeship,"  for  it  is  a 
singular  fact,  that  the  French  Mountains 
are  entirely  free  from  them.  The  Indians 
named  the  lake  on  account  of  the  purity  of 
its  waters,  Horicon,  or  Silver  Water  ;  they 
also  called  it  Canderi-oit,  or  the  tail  of 
the  Lake,  on  account  of  its  connection  with 
Lake  Champlain.  It  was  visited  by  Samuel 
Champlain  in  1609,  and  some  suppose  he 
gave  his  name  to  the  lake  instead  of  the 
one  which  now  bears  it.  It  also  received 
the  name  of  Sacrament  by  the  French,  who 


34 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE   GEORGR. 


frequently  visited  the  lake,  its  pure  waters 
suggesting  the  idea.  The  remains  of  Fort 
George  and  Fort  William  Henry,  at  the 
head  of  the  lake,  are  well  worthy  of  a  visit. 
Fort  William  Henry  stood  directly  on  the 
lake  shore,  on  the  west  side  of  a  pure  moun- 
tain stream  called  West  Creok,  the  main 
inlet  of  Lake  George. 


r      f-,,-       ;t') 


i 


■    r       /  : 


■;.i-..vr   ■>». 


'^:a;.. 


i  < 


;-l.*i-      ir.i 


?:•»  K 


'■t*?iU;:  ii^'thrL.Mti.  i'A3■•:t\ii:■^>,t'i'^' i    ■'[< 


rp-- 


■  n  <"•' 


)! 


i  ■  I*. 


P' 


u  \ 


,  :    .:m^: 


«->-!. 


.!!!., 


-n^.: 


'*)■  r: 


CHAPTER  FIFTH. 


Rebellious  subjects,  enemies  to  peace.  ,    j     ...^    i.., 

Profaners  of  this  neighbor-stained  steel, 

Will  they  not  hear  ? — what  ho  I  you  men,  you  beasts — 

That  quench  the  Are  of  your  pernicious  rage. 

With  purple  fountains  issuing  from  your  veins 

On  pain  of  torture,  from  those  bloody  hands 

Throw  your  mistcmpered  weapons  to  the  ground. 

Romeo  and  JuUet. 

Massacre  at  Fort  "William  Henry — Montcalm's 
Defeat  on  St.  Patrick's  Day — ^Lieut.  Stark's 
Gallantry — Montcalm's  successful  Attack  and 
Demolition  op  the  Fort,  August,  1757 — Indi- 
an Ferocities — The  Remains  op  the  Fort — The 
Spirit  op  Vandalism — Fort  George — ^Its  pre- 
sent appearance — Fort  Gage. 

"  Truth,  weeping,  tells  the  mournful  tale."  u 

N  the  9th  of  August,  in  the  year 
1757,  the  head  of  Lake  George  was 
the  theatre  of  a  terrible  massacre. 
Lord  Loudon,  Governor  of  Vir- 
ginia, a  man  of  indecision  and  procrastinate 
in  all  movements,  was  appointed  Command- 


f 


3G 


HISTORY    OP    LAKK    OROROE. 


er-in-Chief  of  all  the  British  forces  in 
America.  Opposed  to  him  was  Montcalm 
the  active  and  successful  commander,  the 
beloved  of  the  French  army,  who  attempted 
to  capture  Fort  William  Henry,  March 
16th,  1757  ;  to  consummate  his  design  he 
passed  up  Lake  George  on  Saint  Patrick^s 
eve,  and  landed  behind  Long  Point,  four 
miles  from  the  fort,  and  on  the  next  day 
appeared  suddenly  before  it  He  was  gal- 
lantly repulsed  by  the  little  garrison  under 
the  command  of  Lieut.  Stark,  who,  by  his 
ingenuity  and  the  authority  he  exercised 
ovei^  his  men,  saved  them  from  total  destruc- 
tion. Most  of  his  iiien  were  Irishmen,  and 
as  such,  they  had  calculated  largely  on  cele- 
brating Saint  Patrick^s  day,  but  Lieut. 
Stark  apprehending  an  attack  from  some 
quarter,  particularly  from  Montcalm,  exer- 
cised the  precaution  to  check  the  indulgen- 
ces incident  to  the  day,  by  ordering  the 
sutler  not  to  issue  any  spirituous  liquors  at 
the  expected  time,  without  a  written  order. 
When  applied  to,  he  pleaded  a  lame  wrist, 
which    incapacitated  him  from    supplying 


le 


UISTOUY    OF    liAKK   UKORGB. 


37 


their  wants.  The  Irishmen  in  the  regular 
regiments  got  drunk  as  usual,  and  hence 
Montcalm's  desire  that  they  might  be  simi- 
larly affected  ;  sorely  discomforted,  but  by 
no  means  disheartened,  he  returned  to 
Ticonderoga  and  mustered  all  his  forces, 
amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  9,000  men, 
with  the  intention  of  speedily  carrying  out 
his  design  of  subjugating  Fort  William 
Henry.  At  the  time  of  Montcalm's  attack 
upon  Fort  William  Henry  on  St.  Patrick's 
day,  Webb  was  at  Fort  Edward  with  4000 
men.  He  visited  Fort  William  Henry 
under  an  escort  of  200  men,  commanded  by 
Putnam,  and  while  there,  sent  that  officer 
with  eighteen  men  down  the  lake  on  a  re- 
connoiicring  expedition.  The  enemy  were 
^  discovered  to  be  more  numerous  than  was 
supposed.  Putnam  begged  General  Webb 
to  allow  him  to  attack  them  with  full 
numbers,  but  his  importunities  were  stoically 
rejected,  and  he  was  only  allowed  another 
reconnoissance,  and  from  which  he  barely 
escaped,  but  finally  reached  the  fort  in 
safety.     General  Webb,  on  this  occasion, 


il 


38 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  GEORGE, 


acted  in  the  most  pusillanimous  and  coward- 
ly manner  ;  he  caused  Putnam  to  administer 
an  oath  of  secrecy  to  his  rangers  respecting 
the  proximity  of  the  enemy.  Putnam,  in- 
dignant at  this  proposition  of  Webb's,  as 
so  repugnant  to  his  ideas  of  soldierly 
character  and  discipline,  remonstrated 
courteously  bj  saying — '^  I  hope  your  ex- 
cellency doc3  not  intend  to  neglect  so  fair 
an  opportunity  of  giving  battle  should  the 
enemy  presume  to  land  ?''  Webb's  cow- 
ardly reply — "  "  What  do  you  think  we 
should  do  here?"  greatly  exasperated  the 
noble  feelings  of  the  heroic  Major.  By  au- 
thority of  General  Webb,  who  was  com- 
mander of  all  the  forces  at  Ticonderoga, 
Colonel  Munroe  was  ordered  with  a  regi- 
ment to  re-inforce  and  to  take  command  of 
the  garrison  at  Lake  George.  Montcalm, 
conscious  of  success,  and  flushed  with  hopes 
of  victory,  embarked  xiis  troops  at  the  foot 
of  the  lake,  consisting  of  more  than  9,000 
men,  an  accession  to  his  former  numbers  of 
many  Indians,  who  were  induced  to  join 
with  the  hope  of  plunder,  together  with  a 


a 


i! 


_l 


-^ 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  GEORGE. 


39 


powerful  train  of  artillery,  and  landed  at 
the  head  of  the  lake.  Ho  instantly  com- 
menced operations  for  the  demolition  of 
the  fort,  having  a  force  of  less  than  3,000 
men  to  contend  with.  He  otfered  every 
inducement  to  Munroe  for  the  immediate 
surrender  of  the  fort,  urging  that  he  was 
not  desirous  to  proceed  in  the  enforcement 
of  his  designs,  and  doubtless  actuated  by 
the  most  humane  of  motives,  he  urged  his 
request.  Munroe,  deaf  to  the  importuni- 
ties of  his  more  powerful  rival,  was  confi- 
dently expecting  reinforcements  froir  Jen. 
Webb,  and  strenuousb^  refused  compliance. 
The  storming  was  commenced  hy  the 
French,  and  the  seige  lasted  six  consecutive 
days,  without  much  slaughter    on    either 


side. 


»V'     tf   ifi: 


lii-: 


The  following  account  of  the  capture  of 
the  fort,  which  is  so  minutely  detailed,  is 
extracted  from  Professor  Silliman's  Tour  : 

"  The  Marquis  de  Montcalm,  after  three 
ineffectual    attempts   upon   Fort    William 

i  Henry,  made  great  efforts  to  beseige  it  in 
form,  and  in  August,  1757,  having  landed 
i 


? 


40 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  iiEOllGE. 


ten  thousand  men  near  the  fort,  summoned 
it  to  surrender.  He  had  a  powerful  train 
of  artillery,  and  although  the  fort  and 
works  were  garrisoned  by  three  thousand 
men,  and  were  most  gallantly  defended  by 
the  commander.  Col.  Monroe,  it  was  obliged 
to  capitulate  ;  but  the  most  honorable  terms 
were  granted  to  Col.  Monroe  in  considera- 
tion of  his  gallantry.  The  bursting  of  the 
great  guns,  the  want  of  amunition,  and 
above  all,  the  failure  of  General  Webb  to 
succor  the  fort,  although  he  lay  idle  at 
Fort  Edward  with  4,000  men,  were  the 
causes  of  this  catastrophe.  The  capitula- 
tion was,  however,  most  shamefully  broken  ; 
the  Indians  attf^ched  to  Montcalm's  arm\% 
while  the  troops  were  marching  out  of  the 
gate  of  the  fort,  dragged  fhe  men  from  the 
ranks,  particularly  the  Indians  in  the 
English  service,  and  butchered  them  in  cold 
blood  ;  they  plundered  all  without  distinc- 
tion, and  murdered  women  and  little  chil- 
dren with  circumstances  of  the  most  aggra- 
vated barbarity.  The  massacre  continued 
all  along  the  road,  through  the  delile  of 


ll- 

-a- 


-iS 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  QEORQE. 


41 


the  mountains,  and  for  many  miles  the  mis- 
erable prisoners,  especially  those  in  the 
rear,  were  tomahawked  and  hewn  down  in 
cold  blood  ;  it  might  well  be  called  the 
bloody  defile,  for  it  was  the  same  ground 
that  was  the  scene  of  the  battles  only  two 
years  before,  in  1755.  It  is  said  that 
efforts  Avere  made  by  the  French  to  restrain, 
the  barbarians,  but  they  were  not  restrained 
a.  '  the  miserable  remnant  of  the  garrison; 
With  difficulty  reached  Fort  Edward  pursued 
by  the  Indians,  although  escorted  by  a  body 
of  French  troops.  I  passed  over  the  whole 
of  the  ground  upon  which  this  tragedy  was 
acted,  and  the  oldest  men  of  the  county  still 
remember  this  deed  of  guilt  and  infamy/' 

Fort  William  Henry  was  levelled  by 
,  Montcalm  and  has  never  been  re-built. 
Fort  G..>-::b  wxis  built  as  a  substitute  for 
it,  on  a  ixXH*^  commanding  site,  and  although 
often  mentioned  in  the  history  of  subse- 
quent wars,  was  not,  I  believe,  the  scene  of; 
any  very  memorable  event  ,  iu  ..,.,  s  Jj 
There  is  nothing  now  remaining  of  Fort; 
Willir  1  Henry  except  a  few  mounds  and- 


Q- 


-«? 


I , 


42 


HISTORY   OP  LAKE  GEORGE. 


shallow  ditches,  for  time  has  weaved  his 
spell  over  the  rude  masonry  of  art.  The 
general  appearance  of  th©  grounds  scarcely 
denote  that  they  have  ever  been  appropri- 
ated as  the  theatre  of  war,  for  no  vestige 
now  remains,  save  a  time-worn  well  which 
supplied  the  garrison,  to  indicate  the  ap- 
pearance of  an  entr<^t)ched  army.  South- 
west of  the  fort,  at  the  ^-^  of  Rattlesnake 
Hill,  is  a  clearing  calicJ  French  Field. 
Here  it  was  that  Dieskau  halted  and  dis- 
posed his  men  for  action.  There  was  a 
rough  stone  upon  which  was  inscribed  in 
uncouth  characters,  Jacques  Cortois,  1755. 
The  spirit  of  Vandalism  destroys  every 
association  connected  with  the  past, 

'^  Yet  even  these  bones  from  insult  to  protect, 
3ome  frail  memorial  still  ereotecl  nigh,. 
With  uncouth  rhymes,  and  shapeless  sculpture  decked. 
Implores  the  passing  tribute  of  a  sigh." 

seems  to  have  no  effect  in  remedying  this 
gross  and  unpardonable  evil,  for  not  many 
years  ago  the  stone  was  broken  and  part  of 
it  secretly  carried  away,  and  now,  probably, 
adds  to  the  collection  of  some  carefully 
selected  cabinet.     Fort   George  is  about 


V. 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  GEORGE. 


43 


midway  between  the  east  and  west  shore, 
and  was  erected  upon  a  sloping  eminence 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  Fort  Wil- 
liam Henry,  and  probably  one-eighth  from 
the  lake  shore.    It  was  well  designed  as  a 
fortress,  the  material  for  its  construction 
were  close  at  hand,  composed  of  a  dark  lime- 
stone or  black  marble  which  covers  the  sur- 
face or  protrudes  abruptly  above  it.    The 
east  wall  is  about  twenty  feet  high,  and  still 
preserves  its  original  appearance.    Passen- 
gers for  the  United  States  Hotel  pass  direct- 
ly by  this  fort,  and  are  in  close  proximity 
with  Fort  William  Henry.    The  fortress  evi- 
dently was  a  safe  and  secure  one,  though  it 
has  not  been  the  scene  of  any  very  memorable 
event.     Southwest  of  Fort   George  was  a 
small  fortification,  hardly  a  vestige  of  which 
now  remains,  called  Fort  Gage.     It  was 
named  in  honor  of  General  Gage,  who  suc- 
ceeded Lord  Amherst  as  commander  of  the 
forces  in  America  in  1760. 


1^1 


Q' 


<f- 


^s 


CHAPTER  SIXTH. 


-What  envious  streaks 


Do  lace  the  eoverinfr  cioTlds  in  yonder  east ; 
Night's  candles  are  burnt  out  and  jocund  day 
Stands  tip-toe  on  the  misty  mountain  tops. 

Romeo  and  Juliet. 


The  Appearance  op  the  Lake  tempered   by  the 

ELEMENTS — ThE  EOHOS  PRODUCED  BY  THE  SOUND  OF 
the     HUMAN    VOICE,   AND     BY     THE     DISCHARGE     OF 

Musketry — The  Amusements  op  Visitors — Its 
Sailing  Advantages — Fishimg — Interesting  re- 
mains TO  BE  seen — Relics  frequently  found. 


'r-*i»j-.4"-;:7 


w: 


unfolded    to    the    gaze    of     the 


r.f 


H        » 


iHAT  iiicrs  enrapturing  sight  can  be 

uJlll  admiring  observer  than  nature 
clothed  in  the  panoply  of  her  richest  mag- 
nificence. When  first  Aurora  peeps  with 
smiles  and  blushes  to  welcome  in  the  day, 


i 


HISTORY   OP   LAKE    GEORGE. 


45 


what  hymns  of  thanksgiving  in  their  mnte 
eloquence,  breathe  from  all  animate  and  in- 
animate nature.  It  is  a  task  worthy  of  en- 
gaging the  attention  of  the  most  frequent 
participant  to  bask  in  the  first  radiant 
beams  of  the  rising  sun,  and  particularly 
so  when  they  fall  in  golden  light  upon 
the  wave,  kissed  by  the  cool  breath  of  the 
mountain  breeze.  A  sunrise  on  Lake 
George  I  There  may  be  scenes  of  more 
startling  and  thrilling  interest,  there  may 
be  greater  evidences  of  nature's  vastness 
and  immensity,  there  may  be  chords  of  feel- 
ing which  more  passionately  touch  the 
human  breast,  but  none  which  exert  a  more 
chastening  and  subduing  feeling  than  the 
sun's  first  glimmer  through  the  purpling 
east.  There  is  such  a  quiet  beauty  which 
associates  so  happily  with  the  scene,  such  a 
congeniality  of  feeling  in  the  still  com- 
munings of  nature,  that  in  the  contempla- 
tion you  lose  your  real  existence,  and  live 
in  the  bright  creation  of  an  ideal  world. 
But  above  all,  are  the  senses  enchained 
when  the  pealing  thunder  shakes  the  firm 


(&- 


6 


I 


/     i 


: 


't'j 


IIIBTORY   OF   LAKE   ORORGE. 


i 


masonry  of  Heaven,  and  all  the  embattled 
hosts  war  in  the  elemental  strife.  When 
the  skies  wear  the  somber  hue  of  storm  and 
darkness,  and  the  black  ominous  clouds,  so 
hastily  driven,  rest  angrily  upon  some 
mountain's  brow,  and  the  sun's  faint  glim- 
mer through  some  half  discomfited  cloud,  as 
if  interposing  to  still  the  tumult  of  the  ap- 
proaching storm,  the  leaping  lightning 
gamboling  in  pride  from  crag  to  crag,  now 
levelling  some  mighty  oak,  leviathan  of  the 
sod,  or  darting  harmlessly  its  forked  way, 
when  peal  on  peal  afar,  the  roaring  thun- 
der tracks  his  headlong  march,  and  the 
hoarse  winds  pipes  its  loui  breath  to  the 
liberal  air,  crisping  the  pure  lake  into  a 
sheeted  foam,  whose  mist  conceals  all  but 
its  turbid  bosom,  who  that  has  a  heart 
awed  by  the  influences  of  nature,  can  resist 
j  the  magic  potency  of  the  awful  scene? 
We  gaze  on  in  mute  admiration,  feeling, 
but  giving  no  audible  expression.  Not 
alone  are  there  scenes  to  awe  and  inspire 
the    noblest    faculties,  but  equally  so  to 

amuse  and  interest  the  curious.    The  echo 

y ^ 


HISTORY   OF    LAKE    GEORGE. 


47 


produced  by  the  sound  of  the  human  voice 
in  many  parts  of  the  lake,  is  singularly 
beautiful.  On  the  cast  shore,  about  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  froDi  the  public  house, 
there  is  a  spot  ti^;,t 


w. 


m 


''  Which,  in  my  opinion, 
Gives  the  best  echo  that  you  ever  heard  ! 
So  plain  in  the  distinction  of  our  woids, 
That  many  have  supposed  it  a  spirit 
'^  .li  :  That  answers." 


•>'-«■ 


'tit    ■ 


Three  echos  can  be  plainly  heard  at  the  call 

of  a  name,  and  with  so   much  distinctness 

and   true  inflection  of  the  voice,  that  one 

must  indeed   "  suppose    it    a  spirit"   that 

answers.     The  report  of  musketry  is  equally 

pleasing,  and  on  a  still  night,  the  boom  of 

a  cannon  reverberates  grandly  among  the 

lofty  mountains  which   environ  this  lovely 

lake.     Company  highly   amuse  themselves 

on  a  fine  moonlight  night  in  all  manner  of 

aquatic  amusements,  and  the  dipping  oars 

as  the  accompaniment  to  music,  produces 

the  most  pleasing  imaginable  effect.    This 

lake  possesses  advantages  over  many  other 

inland  bodies  of  water  for  pleasure  sailing. 

The  winds  are  generally  favorable  for  this 
^ ^ 


I 


f 
h 


\i 


48 


HISTORY   OP 'LAKE    GEORGE. 


purpose  ;  those  from  the  north  having  a  full 
sweep  of  some  twelve  miles  to  the  head  of 
the  lake,  while  from  the  south,  a  current 
of  air  passes  through  a  wide  gorge  of  the 
French  Mountains,  causing  a  steady  and  re- 
liable breeze  which  ensures  comparative 
safety  to  those  who  indulge  in  this  health- 
ful amusement.  There  is  some  good  fishing 
at  the  head  of  the  lake,  but  like  other 
sports,  distance  and  the  din  of  preparation 
e^nhances  the  pleasure  of  the  journey  and 
creates  a  different  degree  of  satisfaction 
when  attended  with  some  hardship  and  the 
necessity  of  homely  fare.  The  fish  caught 
at  the  head  of  the  lake  are  mostly  small, 
but  none  the  less  acceptable  for  the  table. 
Trout,  bass  and  perch  are  very  plentiful ; 
the  former  being  of  large  size  and  of  most 
delicious  flavor.  Expert  anglers  can  here 
enjoy  their  favorite  pastime  to  its  full  and 
unlimited  extent.  I  shall  point  out  the 
best  fishing  localities  as  we  proceed  on  our 
journey  through  the  lake.  Near  the  south 
shore  of  the  lake,  a  few  rods  east  of  Fort 
William  Henry,  in  about  fifteen  feet  of 


Q- 


•Q 


I! 


■:#^'N 


HISTORY    OF    LAKE   GEORGE. 


49 


water,  may  be  discovered  when  the  water  is 
not  agitated,  part  of  the  hulk  of  a  vessel, 
probably  used  by  Montcalm  for  the  convey- 
ance of  his  forces  through  the  lake  at  the 
time  of  his  attack  upon  Fort  William 
Henry.  Efforts  were  made  some  years 
ago  by  two  of  the  village  residents  to  raise 
it,  but  it  was  so  decomposed  by  the  action 
of  the  water,  that  their  efforts  were  only 
partially  rewarded.  Numerous  relics  of 
Indian  devices,  such  as  knives  and  arrow 
heads,  also  gun  barrels,  spikes,  cannon  and 
musket  balls,  have  ])een  found  in  great 
profusion  for  many  years  past,  and  with 
the  further  disturbance  of  the  soil  about 
the  locality  of  the  fort  many  will  yet  be 
discovered  and  brought  to  light  from  their 
long  entombment.  On  the  west  shore,  a 
few  rods  north  of  the  village,  is  an  old 
hulk  which  travellers  will  naturally  make 
enquiries  about.  It  was  formerly  the  steam- 
boat "  William  Caldwell,"  which  used  to 
traverse  these  waters,  and  having  fulfilled 
her  expected  requirements,  she  was  stripped 
of  all  her  valuable  necessaries  and  was  left 


r> 


50 


irrsTouv  ok  lakk  George. 


lying*  upon  the  strand,  where  she  has  been 
subjected  to  the  action  of  the  elements  for 
the  past  three  years. 


i 


'^^^P>VJ 


'm. 


m>^ 


G\c 


C"  .  oo'"-' 


^x3^a7(5€0<B''-^iX^ 


CIIArTER  SEVENTH. 


"  Tho  south  wind  was  like  a  gentle  friend, 
Parting  tb»  hair  po  Bcftly  on  my  hroM. 
It  hnd  come  o'er  tlio  gardens,  and  tlic  flowom 
That  kissed  it  were  betrayed  ;  for  as  it  purtcd 
With  its  Invisible  fingers  my  loose  hair, 
I  knew  it  had  been  trifling  with  the  rose 
And  stooping  to  the  violet     There  in  joy 
For  all  God's  creatures  in  it."— JFiHif. 


Rf       ks  on  Travel — The  Steamboat  John  Jay — 

X  uiURE    GROWTH    OP    LaKE    GeORGE    AS   A   SUMMER 

RESORT — A  Description  op  the  Islands  and 
Mountains  on  the  Lake,  together  with  their 
names  and  all  the  historical  and  legendary 

associations  connected  with  THEM,  AND  THE 
TRIP   TO   OLD   "Ty." 


EFRESHED  and  invigorated  by  the 
'harmonizing  influences  at  work 
around  us,  exerting  an  equally 
beneficial  influence  upon  the  inva- 
lid as  well  as  the  tourist  for  pleasure,  we 
must,  to  prosecute  our  journey,  secure  pas- 


O- 


'^ 


^fj 


52 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE    GEORGE. 


S 


sage  on  board  the  excellent  steamer 
*'  John  Jay,"  which  leaves  her  moorings 
every  morning  (Sundays  excepted,)  at  7 
o'clock.  How  beautiful  and  fine  the  day 
appears,  and  how  beautifully  it  harmonizes 
with  the  sentimciAts  in  the  lines  quoted  at 
the  heading  of  our  chapter.    ,    c   ,„ 

The  travel  through  the  lake  has  increasrd 
immeasurably  beyond  the  accommodations 
heretofore  afforded,  and  from  the  great 
number  of  visitors  who  make  their  annual 
pilgrimage  thither,  a  number  of  good 
commc/ious  houses  might  be  profitably 
erected.  It  is  a  true  assertion,  that  Lake 
George  will,  ere  long,  vie  with  Saratoga, 
its  sister  rival,  in  fashion  and  number  of 
visitors.  Contiguous  as  are  the  two  places, 
they  must  eventually  coalesce  and  form  the 
chain  of  the  great  northern  projected  sum- 
mer travel,  as  well  as  become  the  fashiona- 
ble and  truly  healthful  resort  of  city  resi- 
dents. A  number  of  good  houses  are 
scattered  along  the  borders  of  the  lake, 
among  which  are  Low's  Trout  Pavilion,  six 
miles  from  the  head,  Gale's  at  Bolton,  ten 


It 


I 


'^■/ 


HISTORY    OF    LAKE    GEORGE. 


53 


le 


miles,  and  Garfield's  at  Hague,  t-venty-five 
miles  ;  the  latter  being  a  capital  resort  for 
parties  of  pleasure,  justly  noted  for  its  good 
fishing  and  hunting.  But  to  our  journey  : 
What  an  excellent  steamer  is  destined  to 
convey  us  through  the  lake,  and  under  the 
excellent  captaincy  of  Hozea  B.  Farr,  we 
may  indeed  promise  ourselves  a  delightful 
journey.  The  "  John  Jay"  is  the  property 
of  John  J.  Harris,  Esq.,  one  of  the  ener- 
getic men  of  the  day,  and  a  resident  of  War- 
ren county.  It  was  built  under  his  own 
immediate  supervision,  and  is  in  every  re- 
spect a  fine,  staunch  vessel.  Too  much 
praise  cannot  be  awarded  to  its  liberal  and 
indefatigable  proprietor  for  the  energy  and 
spirit  first  displayed  in  its  construction,  and 
under  such  a  train  of  discouragements,  that 
none  but  the  most  foresightcd  could  have 
possibly  conceived  its  future  success.  The 
boat  is  managed  with  much  liberality, 
evincing  a  just  appreciation  of  the  wants  of 
the  travelling  community,  with  a  due  regard 
to  speed,  and  to  the  higher  importance,  of 
confident  safety  to  the  traveller.  •     ;:; 


V, 


54 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  GEORGE^ 


Having  commenced  our  journey,  the  first 
island  we  pass  is  Tea  Island,  near  the  west 
shore  one  mile  from  the  head  of  the  lake. 
It  is  a  beautiful  and  romantic  isle,  with  a 
harbor  resembling  in  miniature,  the  counter- 
part of  Havana.    There  is  a  rustic  summer 
house  to  be  seen  upon  it,  and  it  is  certainly 
one  of  the  most  delightful  spots  located  on 
the  lake.    It  is  much  frequented  by  parties 
of  pleasure,  as  it  is  within  a  convenient  dis- 
tance of  both  houses.     On  the  east  shore, 
one  and  a  half  miles  further  to  the  north,  is 
Plum  Point.    Further  to  the  east,  and  di- 
rectly around  this  point  is  Dunham's  Bay, 
one  and  a  half  miles  in  length.  In  the  centre 
of  the  lake,  three  miles  from  the  head,  is  Dia- 
mond Island ;  lying  directly  in    front  of 
Dunham's  Bay.    It  received  its  name  from 
the  number  and  beauty  of  the  quartz  crys- 
tals which  are   found  upon  it,  closely  re- 
sembling the  diamond  in  their  brilliancy 
and  shape.    This  little  island  is  quite  no- 
table in  the  annals  of  our  revolution,,  and 
was  used  by  Burgoyne's  army  as  a  depot  for 
military  stores  in.  1777,  as  well  as  the  scene 


I  1 

J 


I  i 
t 


f  ! 


■^^ 


r- 


'f 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  GEORGE. 


55 


-a 


of  a  close  conflict  between  the  garrison  who 
defended  it,  and  the  Americans  under  Col. 
Brown.     This  officer   under   authority  of 
General   Lincoln,  who  at  this  time  com- 
manded a  body  of  New  England  militia, 
and  between  the  actions  of  the  19th  of  Sep- 
tember   and   7th  of    October   at    Bemis's 
Heights,  got  in  the  rear  of  Burgoyne's  army 
near  Lake  Champlain,  determined  to    re- 
capture Ticonderoga,  and  the  posts  in  the 
vicinity.     He  accordingly  despatched  Col. 
Brown  with  full  discretionary  power  to  cut 
•  off  the  retreat  of  the  British,  and  if  possible 
to  reduce  their  supplies.     The  nature  of  the 
service  was  exactly  suited  to  Brown^s  er'^r- 
getic  and  decisive   character,  and  on  ui- 
25th  of  September  1777,  by  an  unexpected 
surprise  he  captured  all  the  enemy's  out- 
posts, between    the    landing  place    at  the 
north  end  of  Lake  George  and  the  fortress 
at  Ticonderoga  ;  200  batteaux,  an  armed 
sloop,  and  293  prisoners,  were  the  trophies 
of  his    daring    and  intrepidity.    He  also 
captured  Mount  Defiance,  Mount  Hope,  the 
French  lines,  besides  releasing  100  Ameri- 


! 


56 


HISTORY   OP    LAKE   GEOBGE. 


\\ 


cans.  Elated  with  his  success,  he  determin- 
ed, with  the  V  essels  that  he  had  captured,  to 
sweep  Lake  George.  The  little  garrison 
stationed  at  the  island  gallantly  defended 
themselves,  somewhat  to  the  loss  of  the 
brave  republicans.  Unsuccessful  in  this  at- 
tempt, they  sailed  for  the  shore  on  the  south 
side  of  Dunham's  Bay,  where  they  burned 
all  the  vessels  they  had  captured  and  im- 
mediately returned  to  Lincoln's  camp.  A 
mile  further  to  the  north,  on  the  west  side 
is  Diamond  Point.  There  is  an  anecdote 
connected  with  this  Point  which  I  will  re- 
late :  Some  years  ago,  Anthony  Paul,  an 
old  Indian,  had  a  camp  near  this  Point, 
and  one  day  late  in  the  fall,  while  in  the 
act  of  supplying  his  camp  w^ith  w^ater,  he  dis- 
covered something  in  the  water,  evidently 
making  towards  the  shore.  Observing 
closely  his  approach,  he  determined  an  at- 
tack, but  having  no  weapon  about  him,  he 
called  for  assistance  and  his  appeal  was 
answered  by  his  wife  who  brought  him  a 
large  spear.  He  waited  patiently  for  the 
animal's  approach  dreading  a  severe    en- 


-O 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  OEOROE. 


counter  :  but  the  animal,  benumbed  with  the 
cold,  made  but  a  feeble  resistance.  It 
proved  to  be  a  panther  measuring  ten  feet 
in  length.  One  mile  further  to  the  north, 
in  the  centre  of  the  lake,  are  the  Two  Sisters. 
To  the  east  of  these  islands  is  Long  Island, 
one  mile  in  length,  and  containing  100 
acres  of  good  farm  land.  The  narrow  fer- 
tile strip  of  land,  which  projects  far  out  into 
the  lake  from  the  eastern  shore,  and  near 
the  south  end  of  Long  Island,  is  Long  Point. 
The  estuary  between  the  north  side  of  the 
point  and  the  mountains  on  the  east,  is  Har- 
ris's Bay,  and  is  designated  as  the  spot 
where  Abercrombie  moored  his  vessels  pre- 
vious to  his  attack  upon  Fort  William 
Henry  on  St.  Patrick's  eve.  East  of  Harris's 
Bay  is  Slim  Point.  Low's  Pavilion  Hotel 
is  situated  on  the  east  shore,  about  the 
middle  of  Wormer's  Bay.  It  is  a  good 
house,  conducted  by  a  gentlemanly  land- 
lord. The  fishing  in  this  neighborhood  is 
considered  excellent.  We  now  make  a 
stretch  of  some  four  miles  in  a  northwesterly 
direction,  before  we  can  note  any  more  isl- 


*  !    I 


I:  ;i 


58 


HISTORY  OP  LAKE  GEORGE. 


ands,  content  however  with  viewing  the 
extent  of  scenery  here  displayed.  Near  the 
western  shore  we  pass  three  small  islands, 
bearing  the  name  of  the  Three  Brothers.  The 
little  island  which  we  pass  so  closely  to  the 
right,  and  upon  which  a  cross  is  erected  is 
Sloop  Island,  deriving  its  name  from  its  re- 
semblance to  a  sloop.  The  cross  w^as  erect- 
ed by  Madame  Parodi  in  the  summer  of 
1851,  and  attracts  the  attention  of  the  tra- 
veller. Dome  Island  directly  in  the  centre 
of  the  lake,  and  distant  ten  miles  from  its 
head  is  the  next  considerable  island  on  the 
lake.  It  received  its  name  from  its  close 
resemblance  to  the  upper  portion  of  a  dome, 
and  at  the  distance  of  a  few  miles  appears 
as  perfect  as  though  formed  by  art.  Here 
it  was  that  Putnam  left  his  men,  while  he 
informed  General  Webb  of  the  presence  of 
the  Indians  and  French  upon  the  two  is- 
lands, near  the  entrance  of  north  west  Bay. 
Pleasantly  situated  on  the  west  shore  in  the 
town  of  Bolton,  is  the  Mohican  House,  kept 
by  G.  B.  Gdle.  The  fishing  in  this  neigh- 
borhood, is  esteemed  as  very  excellent.    A 


<? 


•vk 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  GEORGE. 


59 


short  distance  north  of  Bolton  is  Green  Isl- 
and, containing  seventy-four  acres  of  good 
tillable  land.  Hog  Island,  so  named  from  its 
resemblance  to  a  hog^s  back,  is  a  few  rods 
distant.  On  the  east  side  is  Shelving  Eock, 
two  miles  north  of  Bolton,  a  towering  cliflF,  so 
named  from  its  projecting  boldly  over  the 
mouth  of  a  brook.  This  place  is  famous 
above  all  others  on  the  lake  for  its  rattle- 
snakes. In  the  centre  of  the  lake,  nearly 
opposite  Shelving  Rock,  is  Tongue  Moun- 
tain, a  bold  rocky  promontory,  receiving  its 
name,  and  justly  so,  from  its  close  resem- 
blance to  a  beefs  tongue.  To  the  west  of 
this  notable  mountain,  is  Northwest  Bay,  six 
miles  in  length.  Directly  on  our  east,  is  a 
little  cluster  of  islands,  familiary  known  as 
the  Hen  and  Chickens.  Near  the  end  of 
Tongue  Mountain  is  Flea  Island,  so  named 
from  the  immense  number  of  fleas  with 
which  it  is  infested.  Directly  to  the  north 
of  these  last  named  islands  is  Fourteen  Mile 
Island.  Now  we  enter  the  narrows  and  the 
scene  presented  is  one  of  quiet,  though 
continued  beauty.   Here  the  islands  are  so 


!    !■ 


c 


60 


HISTORY  OF   LAKE   GEORGE. 


thickly  imterspersed,  varying  materially  in 
size,  that  a  very  small  space  is  allowed  for 
the  steamboat  to  pass  through.  On  the  west 
side,  two  miles  further  to  the  north,  is 
French  Point,  and  near  by  are  the  Two 
Dollar  Islands  ;  one  mile  to  the  north  of 
these  islands,  and  in  the  centre  of  the  lake, 
are  the  Hatchet  Islands.  Some  years  ago  a 
hatchet  was  found  upon  one  of  these  islands, 
supposed  to  belong  to  one  of  the  chiefs  of  the 
Mohicans,  and  from  this  circumstance  they 
derived  their  name.  Two  miles  to  the  north 
of  these  islands  is  Half-Way  Island  ;  to  the 
east  of  which,  towers  majestically.  Black 
Mountain,  rising  at  an  elevation  of  2200 
feet ;  its  sides  are  heavily  wooded,  and  it 
will  ever  preserve  the  bold  originality  of 
nature.  The  view  from  the  summit  of  this 
mountain  is  one  which  amply  repays  the 
labors  of  the  traveller,  showing  an  immense 
extent  of  country  for  miles  in  v^very  direction. 
At  the  base  of  Black  Mountain  are  a 
number  of  islands  called  the  Floating 
Battery  Islands,  so  named  from  their  rep- 
resenting   ships    in    battle    array.     The 


O 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE   GEORGE. 


61 


next  island,  in  the  centre  of  the  lake,  is 
Harbor  Island,  receiving  its  name  from  the 
excellent  harborage  to  be  obtained  on  all 
sides  for  vessels  of  considerable  tonnage. 
On  the  east  shore,  the  north  part  of  Black 
Mountain,  is  Elephant  Ridge,  first  discov- 
ered in  1852,  by  Mr.  E.  S.  Harris,  Pilot, 
and  deriving  its  name  from  its  close  re- 
semblance to  an  elephant's  back.  It  must 
be  borne  in  mind,  that  objects  are  differ- 
ently represented  when  viewed  from  dif- 
ferent points,  in  a  measure  owing  their 
resemblance  from  the  position  in  which 
j  they  are  viewed  ;  in  this  instance,  the  best 
j  view  of  Elephant  Ridge  is  when  opposite 
Harbor  Island.  North  of  this  last  named 
island  and  near  it,  is  Vicar's  Island,  which 
we  pass  directly  to  the  left  of ;  it  derived 
its  name  from  the  following  incident : 
"  Some  years  ago  there  was  a  man  inhabiting 
this  island,  who,  with  a  boy,  his  only  son, 
were  its  sole  occupants.  Some  fishermen, 
their  nearest  residents,  happening  to  land 
upon  the  island,  discovered  its  occupant 
dead  and  the  boy  actually  wild  with  grief  and 


O 


-9 


T 


62 


% 


niSTORY   OF   LAKE   GEORGE. 


hunger,  watching  .the  dead  corpse  of  his 
father.  The  boy  upon  noticing  the  approach 
of  the  men,  fled  precipitately,  but  their  assur- 
ances composed  him.  They  made  a  suitable 
disposition  of  the  body,  and  from  their  own 
examination  and  the  incoherent  language 
of  the  boy,  they  concluded  that  he  had  died 
in  a  fit.  The  child  was  cared  for  by  the 
fishermen,  and  the  island  named  after  its 
unfortunate  resident."  East  of  this  island 
is  Bosom  Boy,  back  of  which  is  Sugar  Loaf 
Mountain.  On  the  west  shore  is  Short  Eun 
Mountain  ;  it  derived  its  name  from  the 
great  number  of  deer  to  be  found  upon  it, 
and  the  precipitate  haste  with  which  they 
took  to  the  water  when  pursued  by  the 
dogs  ;  it  received  its  name  from  Moses 
Harris,  Esq.,  who,  in  his  youthful  days, 
when  on  his  hunting  excursions,  frequently 
captured  two  deers  before  breakfast.  Plac- 
ing his  dog  under  Buck  Mountain  and  on 
Kattlesnake  Point,  the  dog  so  thoroughly 
understanding  his  business,  would  perform 
all  the  necessary  offices  unaided  and  alone. 
Secreting  himself  among  the  branches  of  a 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE   GEORGE 


63 


in 


a 


tree,  he  awaited  patiently  the  approach  of 
the  deer  into  the  water,  and  cautiously 
lowering  himself  from  his  hiding  place,  he 
jumped  into  his  frail  boat  and  rowed  after 
the  deer  in  hot  pursuit.  After  a  w^arm 
chase,  in  which  much  agility  is  required, 
the  tired  deer  is  easily  secured.  Kind 
reader,  did  you  ever  indulge  in  this  glori- 
ous sport  ?  if  not,  the  pleasure  of  partaking 
of  a  fine  bit  of  venison  with  all  the  etceteras, 
is  but  a  tithe  to  the  pleasures  of  the  chase. 
This  is  the  usual  way  of  taking  the  deer  in 
this  section  of  country,  with  the  exception 
that  there  are  men  who  make  it  a  business 
to  set  on  their  dogs,  thereby  driving  them 
into  the  w^ater.  The  fawns,  taken  at  the 
proper  season,  can  be  easily  tamed  and  be- 
come wonderfully  tractable  and  playful. 
Buck  Mountain,  on  the  west  side,  rising  at 
an  elevation  of  about  800  feet,  derived  its 
name  from  a  fine  large  buck  being  driven 
off  the  ledge  by  a  pack  of  dogs,  who  by 
the  fall  was  shockingly  mutilated. 

The  next  important  point  upon  the  lake, 
is  Sabbath  Day  Point,  which  we  pass  closely 


64 


J 


HISTORY    OF    LAKE    GEO  ROE. 


on  our  left.  It  is  a  narrow  fertile  strip  of 
land,  possessing  considerable  historical  in- 
terest. Here,  in  1756.  a  small  provincial 
force  pursued  by  a  party  of  French  and  In- 
dians, and  unable  to  escape,  made  a  des- 
perate resistance  and  defeated  their  assail- 
ants ;  it  received  its  name  from  General 
Abercrombie,  who,  with  his  fine  army,  as 
already  noticed,  in  batteaux  and  whale  boats 
debarked  for  a  few  hours  rest  and  refresh- 
ment. Lord  Howe  collected  the  bravest 
of  his  oiScers  around  him,  who  with  Capt. 
Stark,  (the  revolutionary  general,)  whom 
he  invited  to  sup  with  him,  discussed  with 
the  greatest  warmth  and  anxious  solicitude, 
the  fortress  at  Ticonderoga  which  they 
were  about  to  assail.  Deeply  solicitous  for 
the  welfare  of  his  army,  he  acted  as  one 
who  felt  a  sad  presentiment  possessing  his 
mind  and  over  which  he  seemed  to  have  no 
control.  How  truly  it  was  verified  we 
have  before  noticed.  It  was  early  on  Sun- 
day morning  when  they  were  again  in  mo- 
tion, and  from  this  circumstance  it  received 


its  name.   The  armament  consisting  of  1600 


-Q 


K''' 


•%  >■ 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE   GEORGE. 


65 


men,  is  described  as  presenting  a  most  im- 
posing appearance.  Major  Rogers  "  com- 
pares it  to  a  splendid  military  show." 
Howe,  the  gallant  English  ofl&cer,  ied  the 
j  van  of  the  flotilla.  The  regular  troops  oc- 
cupied the  centre  and  the  provincials  the 
wing.  The  sky  without  the  shadow  of  a 
cloud,  was  radiant  with  the  gems  of  night, 
and  the  silver  lake  was  quiet  and  motion- 
less, not  a  breeze  ruffling  its  deep  and 
crystal  waters  ;  their  oars  were  muffled, 
and  so  silently  did  they  move  on  in  the 
darkness,  that  their  progress  was  not  even 
obser  f*^-  by  the  enemy's  scouts,  nor  had 
they  tlie  least  intimation  of  their  ap- 
proach at  the  proposed  landing  until  sud- 
denly rounding  a  point,  their  whole  num- 
bers were  diplayed  to  their  astonished 
view.  At  this  Point,  in  1776,  a  severe 
battle  occurred  between  a  party  of  Ameri- 
can militia  of  Saratoga  county,  and  a  body  of 
Tories  and  Indians.  Both  were  scouting 
parties  and  their  unexpected  meeting  gave 
rise  to  a  severe  encounter.  The  Ameri- 
cans were  signally  victorious,  having  killed 


r" 


-.3 


66 


HISTORY  OF   LAKE   GEORGE. 


and  wounded  about  forty  of  the  enemy. 
Tlie  scenery  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Point,  is 
of  the  most  bewitching  character,  even  to 
a  prodigality  of  the  picturesque  and  beauti- 
ful, representing  nature  in  her  most  gorge- 
ous attire,  and  in  correct  harmony  with  the 
peaceful  heroism  of  the  times.  Opposite  to 
this  Point  is  Bluff  Point ;  on  the  east 
shore,  about  a  mile  further  to  the  north,  is 
Odell  Island.  An  accident  occurred  some 
years  ago  near  this  island  which  I  will  re- 
late :  "  A  gentleman  was  invited  by  two 
or  three  others  to  join  in  a  sailing  ex- 
cursion, and  they  having  before  partaken 
somewhat  too  freely,  became  so  venture- 
some and  reckless,  despite  the  steadily  in- 
creasing gale,  that  the  fear  incited  by  their 
apparent  carelessness,  induced  him  to  re- 
quest them  to  put  him  ashore.  The  boat 
was  ballasted  with  stone,  consequently  his 
alarm,  for  in  case  of  a  capsize  she  must  ine- 
vitably go  to  the  bottom.  This  proposition 
instead  of  producing  the  desired  effect, 
caused  them  to  proceed  more  carelessly  in 
managing  the  boat.    Ridiculing  his  idea 


...^  * 


UISTORY   OF    LAKE   GEORGE. 


67 


and  consider  iiig  liim  as  timid,  they,  to  en- 
sure his  contidence  and  dissipate  all  un- 
necessary fears,  secured  themselves  by  por- 
tions of  the  rigging  ;  the  man  at  the  helm 
tied  the  main  sheet  rope  fast  to  his  body, 
while  the  .others  were  similarly  entangled. 
Entertaining  no  hope  of  their  compliance 
to  his  wishes,  he  watched  a  favorable  oppor- 
tiiuity,  and  as  they  neared  Slim  Point,  which 
is  two  and  a  half  miles  north  of  Sabbath  Day 
Point,  and  the  water  being  shoal,  he  jumped 
overboard  and  waded  to  the  shore.  They 
laughing  at  his  timidity  and  wishing  him  a 
pleasant  journey,  tacked  about  and  were 
soon  far  from  the  land.  The  rescued  one, 
for  so  he  providentially  believed  himself, 
watched  their  progress  with  fearful  mis- 
givings ;  his  doubts  were  but  momentary  ; 
for  a  flaw  of  wind  struck  the  frail  bark 
suddenly  and  she  immediately  capsized,  and 
all  on  board  were  entombed  in  a  watery 
grave.  The  gentleman  I  allude  to  is  still 
living,  and  is  now  one  of  the  first  men  of 
Saratoga  county."  On  the  west  shore, 
two  and  a  half  miles  north,  is  an  island 


h'r 


68 


HISTORY  OF   LAKE   GEORGE. 


known  as   the    Scotch   Bonnet,   receiving 
its    name    from    its    close  resemblance  to 
a  Scotch  bonnet.    Further  to    the  north, 
two  miles,  is  the  little  village  of  Hague.  This 
is  the  widest  part  of  the  lake.    Here  may  be 
found  a  good  hotel  conducted  by  Garfield, 
and  is  justly  noted  as  the  best  place  on  the 
entire  lake  for  fishing  and  hunting,  and  as 
being  a  great  resort  for  parties  of  pleasure. 
The  first  islands  we  pass  after  leaving  Gar- 
field's, and  almost  directly  to  the  east,  are 
Cook's  Islands.    Friend's  Point  is  the  next 
locality  of  any  interest ;    it  received  its 
name  from  the  following  incident  :     **  Dur- 
ing the  war,  two  scouting  parties  accidently 
meeting,  a  skirmish  seemed  to  be  inevitable, 
each  taking  the  other  for  a  deadly  enemy  ; 
they  proved  to  be  of  the  same  party,  but 
the  darkness  of  the  night  and  their  acci- 
dental meeting,  confounded  them,  and  only 
when  about  to   engage  did  they  discover 
their  mistake  ;"  from  this  circumstance  this 
point  has  been  most  appropriately  named. 
On  the  east  shore  is  Anthony's  Nose,  a 
bold,  prominent  hill.     A  fine  echo  is  here 


9 


f 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE   GKORGE. 


69 


produced  by  the  sound  of  the  human  voice. 
Four  miles  northward  of  Garfield^s,  and  on 
the  western  shore  is  Rogers^  Rock  ;  or  fami- 
liarly known  as  Rogers'  Slide.  Thje  "  slide'' 
itself  is  about  two  hundred  feet,  with  a  de- 
scent on  an  angle  of  about  twenty-five  de- 
grees from  meridian.  The  whole  height  of 
the  rock  is  probably  near  four  hundred  feet. 
It  presents  a  singular  appearance  ;  appear- 
ing from  its  smoothness,  as  though  hewn  by 
art.  The  scene  here  presented  is  one  of 
sublime  beauty,  masses  of  rocks  confusedly 
piled,  tower  on  either  side  ;  while  our  little 
steamer  majestically  ploughs  the  pure 
waters,  which  lave  their  rocky  base.  It  re- 
ceived its  name  from  Major  Rogers,  com- 
mander of  a  corps  of  Rangers,  who  in  the 
winter  of  1758  was  surprised  while  on  a  re- 
connoitering  expedition  by  a  party  of  In- 
dians, and  put  to  flight.  Shod  with  snow 
shoes  he  eluded  pursuit,  until  coming  to  the 
summit  of  the  mountain  he  tasked  his  in- 
genuity, which  alone  saved  his  life.  De- 
scending to  the  smooth  rock  he  cast  his 
haversack  of  provisions  down  upon  the  ice, 


]|i^!. 


^^ 


c- 


70 


HISTORY    OF   LAKE   GEORGE. 


slipped  oif  his  snow-shoes,  and  without  mov- 
ing them,  turned  himself  about  and  put  them 
on  his  feet  again.     He  then  retreated  along 
the  southern  brow  of  the  rock  a  few  rods, 
and  down  a  ravine  he  made  his  way  safely 
to  the  lake  below,  and  fled  on  the  ice  to 
Port   George.      His   device  was    signally 
successful.     The  Indians  in  the  meanwhile 
approaching  the  spot,  noticed  the  two  tracks 
evidently  made  by  two  persons,  both  appa- 
rently approaching  the  precipice,  and  their 
wise  conclusions  suggested  to  them  the  idea, 
that  two  persons  had  cast  themselves  down 
the  steep  rock,  sooner  than  fall  into  their 
hands.     On  looking  about,  to  their  surprise 
they  discovered  the  bold  major  on  the  ice, 
making  his   way  with  all   possible  speed, 
while  they,  believing  that  he  had  slid  down 
the  steep  rock,  with  that  characteristic  re- 
verence, considered  him  as  under  the  guid- 
ance and  protection  of  the  Great  Spirit,  and 
relinquished  all  further  pursuit.     Within  a 
mile  of  the   landing  is  Prisoner's  Island  ; 
it  is  thickly  covered  with  shrubbery,  and 
was  used  by  the  French  in  the  seven  year's 


t 


w 


HISTORY  OP  LAKE  GEORGE. 


71 


O 


i 


war  for  their  English  captives.  One  side 
is  fordable,  and  the  first  party  confined 
there,  through  the  carelessness  of  their  vic- 
tors, made  good  their  escape  by  wading  to 
the  shore.  A  few  rods  to  the  west  of  this 
island  is  Howe's  Landing.  Leaving  Sab- 
bath Day  Point  early  in  the  morning,  Aber- 
crombie's  army  reached  this  place  by  noon, 
and  pushed  their  way  forward  towards  Ti- 
conderoga.  The  ride  of  four  miles  to  the  fort 
is  a  pleasant  one,  though  the  road  is  hilly, 
but  the  scenery  is  ever  new  and  changing. 
We  cross  the  outlet  of  the  lake  twice,  first 
at  the  upper  Falls,  and  next  at  the  lower 
Falls  half  way  between  the  two  lakes  of 
Champlain  and  George.  Here  the  thriving 
village  of  Ticonderoga  is  situated.  Arri- 
ving at  the  Fort  about  noon,  we  can  dine  at 
the"Pavilion,"awaitthe  arrival  of  the  Cham- 
plain  steamers,  or  if  returning  through  Lake 
George,  have  ample  time  to  inspect  the 
ruins  of  time  honored  old  "  Ty,"  the  most 
memorable  fortress  connected  with  our  Re- 
volution. 


-■■f% 


•i.'^  »'»  .1,1 


CHAPTER  EIGHTH. 


■■  ■•) ; 


'>  >  "  This  is  the  hallowed  spot  where  first  unfurling, 

Fair  Freedom  spread  her  hlazing  scroll  of  light, 

Here,  from  oppression's  throne  the  tyrant  hurling, 

'    '  She  stood  supreme  in  majesty  and  might." 

Dewey. 

A  Description  of  the  Fortress  of  Tioonderoga — 
Its  history  and  present  appearance — Abercrom- 
bie's  Attack  on  Ticonderoga,  July  8, 1758 — His 
Defeat — Anecdote-  of  young  Lord  Howe.       ;  ' ; 


r 


s  we  gaze  upon  the  rums  of 
^yenerable  old  "  Ty,"  what 
emotions  are  excited,  and 
what  a  degree  of  patriotism 
thrills  through  the  breast  of 
every  true  American !  Here  still  re- 
main a  few  crumbling  remains  of  per- 
ishable greatness  ;  but  amid  such 
scenes  and  associations,  what  a  degree 
of  generous  feeling  awakens  the  heart 
to  patriotic  impulses,  even  warming  the  soul 
of  the  veriest  churl.    Sacred  is  the  ground 


-^ 


HISTORY   OP   LAKE   GEORGE 


73 


on  vhich  we  tread  ;  hallowed  are  the  scenes 
through  which  we  linger.  With  age,  as- 
sociations are  matured,  and  what  becomes 
gray  with  time,  we  reverence  as  a  part  of 
true  religion.  There  is  a  voice  "  which 
speaks  with  most  miraculous  organ"  in 
every  relic  of  the  past ;  there  is  an  indescri- 
bable feeling  which  overflows  the  channels 
of  expression  ;  there  is  almost  an  idolatry 
connected  with  events  which  have  been 
honorably  memorialized  ;  and  how  signally 
is  it  instanced  in  the  appearance  of  this  me- 
morable fortress.  Imagination  and  art 
may  sketch  its  ruined  walls,  but  they  wear 
a  more  majestic  and  imposing  appearance, 
when  viewed  by  a  personal  inspection.  Ti- 
conderoga  was  erected  by  the  French  in 
1756,  and  was  called  by  them  Carillon,  sig- 
nifying chime,  jingling  noise.  It  is  distant 
from  Albany  ninety-six  miles,  and  has  been 
a  fortress  of  great  celebrity  in  both  colonial 
and  revolutionary  history.  The  Indians 
applied  the  name  of  Cheonderoga,  an  Iro- 
quois word,  signifying  sounding  waters,  on 
account  of  the  rushing  waters  of  the  outlet 


in 


74 


HISTORY    OF   LAKE   GEORGE. 


of  Lake   George  at  the  Falls.      It    was 
known  only  by  its  Indian  name  till  1763.  at 
the  close  of  the  French  and  Indian  war.  The 
ruins  are  situated  on  a  peninsula,  compris- 
ing about  500  acres,  and  at  an  elevation  of 
about  100  feet  above  Lake  Champlain.    It 
was  a  very  safe  and  secure  fortress,    sur- 
rounded on  three  sides  by  water,  and  on  the 
fourth  by  a  swamp,  and  the  only  approach- 
able point  defended  by  a  breast-work.    It 
was  commanded  by  Mount  Defiance  on  the 
south  side   of  the   creek  or  outlet,  which 
rises  at  an  elevation  of  750  feet  above  the 
lake.      General  Burgoyne's  troops  to  the 
utter  astonishment   of  the  little  garrison 
stationed  at  the  fort,  appeared  on  the  sum- 
mit of  this  mountain  July  4th,  1777,  and  so 
completely  were  they  in  his  power,  that 
General  St.  Clair  fully  justified  an  immedi- 
ate retreat,  which  he  effected  under  cover 
of  the  night.     Of  this  event  I  shall  speak 
more  particularly    hereafter.      Let  us  in 
due  form,  chronicle  the  various  events  his- 
toricallv  connected  with  this  renowned  for- 
tress.      Prior  to  Montcalm's  attack  upon 


i!^- 


•- 


HISTORY   OP    LAKE   GEORGE. 


75 


Fort  William  Henry  in  August,  1757,  this 
fort  was  the  rendezvous  of  the  French 
troops,  and  continued  as  such  until  Quebec 
was  threatened,  in  1759,  by  an  expedition 
under  Wolfe,  up  the  St.  Lawrence.  The 
following  account  of  the  conflict,  is  in  part 
from  the  third  volume  of  Macaulcy's  His- 
tory of  New  York.  Abercrombie  in  person, 
conducted  the  expedition  against  Ticonde- 
roga  and  Crown  Point,  July  3,  1758.  He 
embarked  all  his  forces,  amounting  to  near 
700  regulars  and  10,000  provincials,  on 
Lake  George,  on  board  of  900  batteaux, 
and  135  whale  boats,  with  all  necessary 
provisions,  artillery  and  ammunition.  The 
splendor  of  the  military  parade  was  emi- 
nently imposing.  A  late  writer,  Dr. 
Dwight,  thus  describes  it : — "  The  morning 
was  remarkably  bright  and  beautiful  ;  and 
the  fleet  moved  with  exact  regularity  to  the 
sound  of  martial  music.  The  ensigns  waved 
and  glittered  in  the  sunbeams,  and  the  an- 
ticipation of  future  triumph  shone  in  every 
eye.  Above,  beneath,  around,  the  scenery 
was  that  of  enchantment.     Rarely  has  the 


J 


«. 


76 


HISTORY    OF    LAKE   GEORGE. 


sun,  since  that  luminary  was  first  lighted 
up  in  tlic  heavens,  dawned  on  such  a  com- 
plication of  beauty  and  magnificence." 
Having  reached  the  landing  place  early 
the  next  morning,  which  was  in  a  cove  on 
the  west  side  of  the  lake  near  its  issue,  he 
immediately  debarked  his  forces,  and  having 
formed  them  into  three  columns,  he  marched 
to  the  enemy's  advanced  post,  composed  of 
one  batallion  in  a  logged  camp  and  com- 
pletely routed  them.  He  urged  his  mar^-h 
towards  Ticonderoga  with  the  serious  in- 
tention of  investing  it,  but  his  route  lying 
through  a  thick  wood,  which  afforded  no 
regular  progression,  the  ranks  were  broken 
by  their  falling  in  one  on  another.  This 
was  in  a  measure  owing  to  the  ignorance  of 
his  guides  and  the  bewilderment  of  his 
troops,  who  unexpectedly  fell  in  with  a 
French  detachment  that  had  lost  its  way. 
Lord  Howe  being  advanced  at  the  head  of 
the  right  centre  column,  led  on  the  troops 
in  this  skirmish,  and  though  the  enemy 
were  completely  routed,  and  148  taken  pri- 
soners, the  victory  was  purchased  at  a  dear 


©- 


-O 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE   GEORGE 


77 


rate,  for  Lord  Howe,  together  with  one 
other  officer,  besides  privates  were  slain.* 
This  was  a  sad  discouragement  to  Aber- 
crombie.  Perceiving  the  fatigue  of  his 
troops,  he  judged  it  expedient  to  fall  back 
to  the  landing  place.  A  detachment  under 
Col.  Broadstreet,  was  ordered  to  take  pos- 
session of  a  saw-mill  in  the  vicinity  of  Ti- 
conderoga  which  the  enemy  had  abandoned. 
Abercrombie  again  advanced  towards  Ti- 
conderoga,  where  he  was  informed  from  the 
prisoners  the  enemy  had  assembled  eight 
battalions,  in  the  aggregate  to  600  men. 
Montcalm  commanded  a  force  of  4000  men 
when  Abercrombie  approached,  but  was  in 

*  ''  This  young  officer  was  the  idol  of  the  army.    From  his  first 
anival  in  America. he  had  accommodated  himself  and  hia  regiment 
to  the  peculiar  nature  of  the  service.    Ho  cut  his  hair  short  and 
induced  the  regiment  to  follow  the  example.    lie  fashioned  their 
clothing  for  the  activity  of  service  and  divested  himself  and  them 
of  every  article  of  superfluous  baggage.     Wlien  near  Ticoudcroga 
Major,  afterward  General  Putnam,  with  about  100  men  advanced 
in  front  of  the  army  us  a  kind  of  scouting  party.     Putnam   en- 
deavored to  prevent  Lord  Howe  from  accompanying  him,  saying 
'  my  Lord,  if  I  am  killed  the  loss  of  my  life  will  be  of  little  conse- 
quence, but  the  preservation  of  yours  is  of  infinite  importance  to 
this  army.'    The  only  answer  was.  '  Putnam,  your  life  is  as  dear  to 
you  as  mine  is  to  me — I  am  determined  to  go  !'    They  soon  met 
the  left  flank  of  the  enemy's  advance,  by  whose  first  fire  his  lord- 
ship fell." — Humphrey's  Life  of  Putnam. 


i\ 


-6 


78 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE   GE0R08. 


daily  expectation  of  an  increase  to  his 
numbers  by  a  re-inforcement  of  3000  troops 
under  M.  De Levi.  The  English  commander 
deemed  it  a  favorable  time  to  strike  a  de- 
cisive blow.  Bivouacing  for  the  night,  he 
sent  his  engineer,  early  in  the  morning,  to 
examine  the  condition  of  the  enemy's  en- 
trenchments. Satisfied  Avilu  the  prospect 
of  success,  he  deemed  a  right  disposition  of 
his  troops  as  justly  necessary.  Stationing 
a  proper  guard  at  the  saw-mill  and  the 
landing  place,  he  set  out  with  his  troops, 
who  marched  with  great  alacrity  towards 
the  entrenchments.  The  French  breast- 
works, eight  feet  high,  had  a  forbidding  ap- 
pearance to  the  English  soldiers,  while  the 
ground  before  it  was  covered  with  an  abatis 
or  felled  trees,  with  their  bows  pointing 
outward,  which,  projecting  in  such  a  man- 
ner, rendered  the  entrenchments  almost  in- 
accessible. The  troops  despite  all  these 
discouragements,  marched  up  to  the  breast- 
works with  the  most  commendable  bravery 
and  sustained  a  most  terrible  fire.  Some 
even  mounted  the  parapet,  but  they  were 


t 


V 


o- 


.,1   ' 


f 


I 

■9 


BISTORY  OF  LAKE  OEOROR. 


7S  [ 


almost  immediately  slain.  The  French 
were  so  securely  defended,  that  no  impres- 
sion could  be  brought  to  bear  upon  them. 
The  battle  lasted  for  several  hours,  and  was 
pursued  with  an  obstinacy  and  pressed 
with  a  vigor  which  proved  the  determination 
of   the  assailants.    They   were,  however, 

V^  unsuccessful,  and  having  began  to  fall  into 

great  confusion  after  several  attacks,  and 
the  carnage  becoming  fearfully  great,  Aber- 
crombie  sounded  a  retreat  as  the  only  expe- 
dient to  save  his  army  from  a  total  defeat. 
The  English  loss  was  nearly  2000  men  and 
2500  stand  of  arms.  The  regiment  of  Lord 
John  Murray  sustained  the  severest  loss  ; 
one  half  of  the  privates  and  twenty-five 
officers  were  slain  on  the  spot,  or  badly 
wounded.  Never  did  troops  show  bolder 
discipline,  or  maintain  in  the  unequal  strife 
more  determined  obstinance  ;  but  the  for- 
tunes of  war  were  against  them,  and  their 
thin  and  saddened  ranks  reluctantly  with- 
drew from  the  bloody  field.  Abercrombie's 
failure  caused  him  to  change  his  plans.  He 
returned  to  Albany,  not  however,  until  he 


80 


HISTORY  OP  LAKE  GEORGE. 


had  dispatched  Gen.  Stanwix  to  build  a  fort 
near  the  head  quarters  of  the  Mohawk,  and 
ordered  Col.  Bradstrect  with  3000  troops 
to  attack  Fort  Frontenac. 


1  V) 


; 


■if 


J(5< 


f 


CHAPTER  NINTH. 


**  There  is  a  spirit  worl^inR  in  the  worij, 
Like  to  a  silent  subterranean  fire  ; 
Yet.  ever  and  anon,  some  monarch  hurl'd 
Aghast  and  pale  attests  its  fearful  ire. 
The  dungeou'd  nations  now  once  more  respire 
The  keen  and  stirring  air  of  liberty. 
The  struggling  giant  wakes  iind  feels  he's  fr^e  ; 
By  Delphi's  fountain  cave,  \ht\i  ancient  choir 
Resume  tiieir  song  ;  the  1 1  reek  astonished  hears, 
And  the  old  altar  of  his  worship  rears. 
Sound  on.  fair  sisters  !  sound  your  boldest  lyres — 
Peal  yoiu"  old  harnioni(!S  as  from  the  spheres. 
Unto  stranjje  gods  too  long  we've  bent  the  knee, 
The  trembling  mind,  too  long  and  patiently."' 

Gatrge  Hill, 
%  — — 

The    OAUSKS   WHTCII    induced  the  CDJiMfiNOEMENT    OP 

Hostilities — ^Tii?;  zeal  of  the  Americans — An 
Explanation — Account  of  Col  Ethan  Allen's 
Capture  of  Ticondbroga. 


m 


■j^EFORE  attempting  a  tlescription 


SiicSii^^  the  ruins  of  Ticondcroga,  we 


(9        •  1 1 

, ..  ^vill 


examine   the  causes  which 
IS^^Ijll  induced  the  infant  colonies   to 


take  up  arms  against  their  mother 


m'^M^. 


M 


country.     Laboring  so  long  under  the  fet- 
ters of  a  cruel  tyranny,  they  were  obliged, 


i 


r 


82 


HISTORY    OF   LAKE    GEORGE. 


by  virtue  of  a  stern  necessity,  to  assume  a 
deg-ree  of  independence  which,  they  well 
knew  would  seriously  conflict  with  the  inter- 
ests  of  their  more  powerful  rival.  The  ap- 
parent contempt  with  which  all  their  peti- 
tions were  rejected,  the  utter  disregard  with 
which  their  remonstrances  were  treated, 
beiGrat  within  the  patient,  though  fearless 
colonists,  such  a  degree  of  virtuous  indig- 
nation as  to  kindle  the  flame  which  lay  idly 
smouldering  at  the  hearthstone  of  every 
patriot's  heart,  and  which  burned  with  such 
an  undimmed  lusire  for  after  years.  The 
harsh  measures  adopted  in  1775,  tp  force 
the  colonies  into  submission — the  domineer- 
ing policy  of  the  British  government  to 
thwart  and  disparage  the  growing  energies 
of  republican  minds,  convinced  the  Ameri- 
cans that  an  appeal  to  arms  was  inevitable. 
Their  love  for  the  mother  country  was  still 
strong  within  them,  thrugli  the  odious 
stamp  act  in  1765,  had  greatly  alienated 
their  affections,  and  every  new  restraint 
upon  their  civil  liberties  was  deeply  provo- 
cative of  some  serious  result.    They  had 


-ca 


e- 


■« 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  GEORGE. 


83 


indeed  borne  the  indignities  of  the  British 
ministry  witii  a  commendable  spirit,  and 
until  their  patience  was  completely  exhausted. 
Their  greatest  apprehension  was  manifested 
as  to  the  feeling  entertained  by  the  province 
of  Quebec  or  Canada,  to  whom  they  had 
sent  in  October,  1774,  an  address,  in  which 
they  recounted  the  grievances  of  the  Ameri- 
can colonies,  and  urging  them  to  affiliate  in 
a  common  resistance.  Its  lei^islative  as- 
sembly  forwarding  no  reply,  congress  justly 
construed  their  silence  into  a  negative. 
The  strong  fortresses  of  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point,  the  great  connecting  links 
between  New- York  and  Canada,  early 
awakened  the  attention  of  the  vigilant 
patriots  who  perceived  the  necessity  of  se- 
curing these  important  posts  the  moment 
hostilities  should  commence.  With  this  in- 
tent a  secret  agent  was  sent  into  Canada, 
by  authority  of  Samuel  Adams  and  Joseph 
Warren,  of  the  Correspondence  Committee 
of  Boston,  to  ascertain  the  opinions  enter- 
tained, and  to  try  the  temper  of  the  people 
in  reference  to  the  gigantic  and  important 


I        T 


1   *! 


84 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  GEORGE. 


events  of  the  day.  His  mission  was  not 
wholly  successful,  for  the  people  were  at 
best  but  lukewarm,  and  as  they,  the  colonies, 
could  not  rely  on  their  assistance,  he  pro- 
posed the  immediate  subjugation  of  Fort 
Ticonderoga,  which  was  effected  by  a  few 
determined  men,  in  the  following  manner. 
Before  attempting  a  description  of  the 
events  which  followed,  allow  me,  indulgent 
reader,  to  offer  an  explanation,  which,  if 
not  entirely  excusable,  may,  from  its  frank- 
ness, in  a  measure  mitigate  the  severity  of 
censure.  The  design  of  this  little  work,  as 
before  expressed,  was  exclusively  a  history 
of  Lake  George,  to  serve  in  the  full  capaci- 
ty of  the  Tourist's  Guide,  but  the  important 
post  of  Ticonderoga,  so  historically  con- 
nected with  Lake  George,  has  induced  me 
to  give  a  description  of  this  memorable 
fortress.  But  in  so  doing,  I  claim  one  prrvi- 
lege,  that  of  extracting  from  reliable 
sources,  the  battles  and  sieges  in  which  it 
has  borne  a  part.  *  ?  ^      vr^i  <    ^     > , 

Ramsay,  in  his  history  of  the  American 
Revolution,  thus  relates  the  seizure  of  the 


e- 


HISTORY  OP   LAKE   GEORGE. 


85 


fortress  of  Ticonderoga  by  Colonel  Ethan 
Allen,  on  the  10th  of  May,  1775  : 

"  It  early  occurred  to  many,  that  if  the 
sword  decided  the  controversy  between 
Great  Britain  and  her  colonies,  the  posses- 
sion of  Ticonderoga  would  be  essential  to 
the  security  of  the  latter  ;  situated  on  a  pro- 
montory,formed  at  the  junction  of  the  waters 
of  Lake  George  and  Lake  Champlain, 
it  was  the  key  of  all  communication  between 
New-York  and  Canada.  Messrs.  Dean, 
Woostcr,  Parsons,  Stevens  and  others  of 
Connecticut,  planned  a  scheme  for  obtaining 
possession  of  this  valuable  post.  Having 
procured  a  loan  of  $1,800  of  public  money, 
and  provided  a  sufficient  quantity  of  powder 
and  balk  they  set  off  for  Bennington  to  obtain 
the  co-operation  of  Col.  Allen,  of  that  place. 
Two  hundred  and  se\  3nty  men,  mostly  of  that 
brave  and  hardy  people  who  are  called  green 
mountain  boys,  were  speedily  collected 
at  Castletor  which  was  fixed  on  as  the 
place  of  rendezvous.  At  this  place.  Colonel 
Arnold,  who,  though  attended  only  with  a 
servant,  was  prosecuting  the  same  object. 


86 


HISTORY   OP   LAKE   GEORGE. 


unexpectedly  joined  them.  He  had  been 
early  chosen  captain  of  a  volunteer  com- 
pany by  the  inhabitants  of  New  Haven, 
among  whom  he  resided.  As  soon  as  he 
received  news  of  the  Lexington  battle,  he 
marched  off  with  his  company  for  the  vici- 
nity of  Boston,  and  arrived  there,  though 
150  miles  distant,  in  a  few  days.  Immedi- 
ately after  his  arrival,  he  waited  on  the 
Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safety,  and  in- 
formed them,  that  there  were  at  Ticondero- 
ga  many  pieces  of  cannon  and  a  great  quan- 
tity of  valuable  stores,  and  that  the  fort  was 
in  a  ruinous  condition,  and  garrisoned  only 
by  about  forty  men.  They  appointed  him  a 
colonel,  and  commissioned  him  to  raise  400 
men,  and  to  takeTiconderoga.  The  leaders 
of  the  party  which  had  previously  rendez- 
voused at  Castleton,  admitted  Colonel  Ar- 
nold to  join  them,  and  it  was  agreed  that 
Colonel  Allen  should  be  the  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  expedition,  and  that  Colonel 
Arnold  should  be  his  assistant.  They  pro- 
ceeded without  delay,  and  arrived  in  the 
night  at  Lake  Champlain,  opposite  to  Ti- 


'^ 


© 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE    GEORGE 


87 


conderoga.  Allen  and  Arnold  crossed  over 
with  eighty- three  men,  and  landed  near  the 
garrison.  They  contended  who  should  go 
in  first,  but  it  was  at  last  agreed  that  they 
should  both  go  in  together.  They  advanced 
abreast,  and  entered  the  fort  at  the  dawn- 
ing of  day.  A  sentry  snapped  his  piece  at 
one  of  them,  and  then  retreated  through 
the  covered  way  to  the  parade.  The  Ame- 
ricans followed,  and  immediately  drew  up. 
The  commander,  surprised  in  his  bed,  was 
called  upon  to  surrender  the  fort.  He  ask- 
ed by  what  authority.  Colonel  Allen  re- 
plied, "  I  demand  it  in  the  name  of  the  great 
Jehovah  and  of  the  Continental  Congress." 
No  resistance  was  made,  and  the  fort,  with 
its  valuable  stores  and  forty-eight  prisoners, 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans.*  The 
boats  had  been  sent  back  for  the  remainder 
of  the  men,  but  the  business  was  done  be- 


*  The  spoils  were  120  pieces  of  iron  cannon,  one  howitzer,  two 
ton  incli  mortars,  fifty  swivels,  one  cohorn,  three  cart  load  of  flints, 
thirty  new  carriages,  ten  tons  of  musket  balls,  quite  a  quantity  of 
shells,  much  material  for  boat  building,  one  hundred  stand  of 
small  arms,  two  brass  cannon,  ten  casks  poor  powder,  thirty  bar- 
rels of  flour,  some  beans  and  peas,  and  eighteen  barrels  of  pork. 


9 


88 


HISTORY   OP   LAKE    GEORGE. 


i 


fore  they  got  over.  Colonel  Seth  Warner 
was  sent  off  with  a  party  to  take  possession 
of  Crown  Point,  where  a  sergeant  and 
twelve  men  performed  garrison  duty.  This 
was  speedily  effected.  The  next  object 
calling  for  the  attention  of  the  Americans, 
was  to  obtain  the  command  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  but  to  accomplish  this,  it  was  neces- 
sary for  them  to  get  possession  of  a  sloop 
of  war,  lying  at  St.  John's,  at  the  northern 
extremity  of  the  lake.  With  the  view  of 
capturing  this  sloop,  it  was  agreed  to  man 
and  arm  a  schooner  lying  at  South  Bay,  and 
that  Arnold  should  command  her,  and  that 
Allen  should  command  some  batteaux  on 
the  same  expedition.  A  favon  ole  wind  car- 
ried the  schooner  ahead  of  the  batteaux,  and 
Colonel  Arnold  got  immediate  possession 
of  the  sloop  by  surprise.  The  wind  again 
favoring  him,  he  returned  with  his  prize  to 
Ticonderoga,  and  rejoined  Colonel  Allen. 
The  latter  soon  went  home,  and  the  former 
with  a  number  of  men  agreed  to  remain 
there  in.  garrison.  In  this  rapid  manner 
the  possession  of  Ticonderoga  and  the  com- 


f 


HISTORY  OP  LAKE   GEORGE. 


'      89 


mand  of  L^ke  Champlain  were  obtained 

without    any   loss,  by  a   few    determined 

j> 


men. 


i  :•-■;*  ■ 


1 


K  * 


I 


ifju 


4  V.'?  ,•-;:' 


'VLC 


J(5<. 


■■■i 


CHAPTER  TENTH. 


A  Description  of  the  Ruins  as  now  Represented — 
Interesting  Localities  described — ^Vandalism — 
Its  Effects — Lossing's  Pictorial  Field  Book  op 
THE  Revolution. 


^S^S^^Xf^f^ 


iifl 


?ET  US,  before  we  proceed  fur- 

h 

jconderoga,   and  gather  such 

time    allows 


1«^ii^ther,  inspect  the  ruins  of  Ti- 
jonderoga, 

prior  to  the  departure  of  the  Champlain 
steamers.  The  outlines  of  the  fort,  togeth- 
er with  its  venerable  walls,  which  rise  in 
some  places  to  the  height  of  twenty  feet, 
preserve  much  of  their  original  appear- 
ance. From  the  remains  of  the  glacis,  near 
the  southern  range  of  barracks,  looking  to 
the  northward,  I  trust  I  may  convey  to  the 
reader,  or  point  out  more  accurately  to  the 


-a 


UISTORV   OF   LAKE   GEORGK. 


91 


close  observer,  a  correct  idea  of  exact  lo- 
calities. So  familiar  is  this  fortress  to  every 
American,  associated  as  it  so  strongly  is 
with  our  Independence,  that  tlie  full  partic- 
ulars of  its  memorable  history  must  prove 
acceptable  to  every  reader.  The  soldiers^ 
and  officers^  quarters  were  securely  built  of 
limestone,  two  stories  high,  and  formed  a 
quadrangle  ;  the  space  enclosed  was  the 
parade.  The  building  on  the  right,  with  a 
chimney  on  the  east  end,  (the  best  preserved 
j  building  to  be  seen,)  is  the  one  in  which  the 
*•  commandant  of  the  garrison  was  asleep 
w^hen  Allen  and  young  Beekman,  who  acted 
as  guide,  thundered  forth  his  request  for  the 
immediate  surrender  of  the  fort  "  in  the 
name  of  the  Great  Jeho\  ih  and  of  the 
Continental  Congress.''  On  the  extreme 
left  is  seen  Mount  Defiance,*  and  on  the 
right,  Mount  Hope.f    A  part  of  the  ram- 

*  Formerly  known  as  Sugar  Loaf  Hill,  but  changed  to  its  pre- 
sent name  by  the  British,  on  the  day  when  thoy  t^rectod  their  bat- 
tery upon  it.  for  from  that  height  they  defied  the  Americans  to  re- 
sist or  dislodge  them. 

t  This  title  was  given  to  5'.  General  Frascr  in  allusion  to  the 
hope  they  entertained  of  d'siodi.  ,the  Americans. — Lossivg^s  Field 
Book  of  the  Revolution. 


im 

i 


« 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


1.1 


^m  m 

1^  1^    12.2 
140     12.0 


1.8 


11-25  11.4    IIIIII.6 


^^ 


7a 


^/ 


/a 


/A 


>t 


'<■/ 


y 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


i3  WEST  MAIN  STREET 
WEBSTER,  4.Y    M580 
"6)  672-4503 


92 


HISTORY   OF   LAKE   GEORGE. 


parts  may  be  seen  in  the  direction  of  Mount 
Hope,  and  the  remains  of  the  "  French 
lines"  are  marked  by  the  woods  beyond  it ; 
nothing  however  remaining,  except  mounds 
and  ditches.  The  most  interesting  spot 
connected  with  this  venerable  fortress,  and 
which  still  preserves  most  remarkably  ^s 
original  appearance,  is  the  bakery  near  the 
southeastern  angle  of  the  range  of  bar- 
racks. It  is  an  under-ground  room,  about 
ten  or  twelve  feet  wide,  and  near  thirty 
feet  long.  It  was  lighted  by  one  window, 
and  contained  a  fire-place  and  chimney, 
which  are  now  in  ruins.  The  ovens  on 
cither  side  of  the  fire-place  are  well  pre- 
served, and  I  have  found  on  inspection,  to 
be  in  good  condition  and  capable  of  answer- 
ing their  original  purpose  ;  they  are  about 
ten  feet  deep.  The  entrance  to  this  room, 
which  was  perfectly  bomb  proof,  is  so 
choked  up  with  rubbish  that  a  descent  into 
it  is  somewhat  difficult. 

Here  also  the  crafty  spirit  of  avarice 
wickedly  desecrates  the  sacred  monuments 
of  the  past,  and  every  year  witnesseth  a 


i 


% 


HISTORY  OP  LAKE  GEORGE. 


93 


gradual  decay  which  this  potent  destroyer 
so  impiously  provokes.  To  most  historical 
travellers  this  is  the  "  mecca"  of  their  de- 
votions, and  to  render  their  oblations  upon 
the  altar  of  liberty  more  sincere,  they  re- 
move, piece-meal,  the  structure  upon  which 
their  reverence  hinges.  The  curse  of  Van- 
dalism is  the  great  bane  of  the  human  race, 
and  with  us,  unless  Congress  acts  decidedly 
in  the  matter,  all  our  venei^able  war-posts 
must  become,  in  a  few  years,  known  only  in 
"  song  and  story."  Lossing  deserves  the 
thanks  of  the  American  people  for  his  time- 
ly rescue  of  many  of  the  scenes  and  relics 
of  the  past ;  and  in  his  splendid  work,  "  The 
Pictorial  Field  Book  of  the  Revolution," 
he  has  stored  in  excellent  verse  a  whole 
magazine  of  historical  researches-  and 
amusing  anecdotes,  for  which  I  am  deeply 
indebted  in  the  compilation  of  this  little 
work. 


■sac- 


-^ 


CHAPTER  ELEVENTH. 


Evacuation  op  Ticonderoga  by  Gen.  St.  Clair, 
July  6th,  1777. 

ACAULEY  in  the  third  volume  of 
his  History  of  New- York,  gives 
a  full  account  of  the  evacuation 
of  Ticonderoga  by  Gen»eral  St. 
Clair,  on  July  6, 1777,  which  I  take  the 
liberty  of  extracting : 

"  From  Crown  Point  the  British  army 
advanced  on  both  sides  of  the  lake,  the 
naval  force  keeping  its  station  in  the  centre  ; 
the  frigate  and  gun  boats  cast  anchor  just 
out  of  cannon  shot  from  the  American 
works.  On  the  near  approach  of  the  right 
wing,  which  advanced  on  the  west  side  of 
the  lake,  on  the  2d  of  July,  the  Ameri- 
1  cans  abandoned  and  set  fire  to  their  works, 


6- 


I: 


-o 


HISTORY    OP   LAKE    GEORGE. 


95 


block-houses  and  saw-mills,  towards  Lake 
George,  and  without  attempting  any  serious 
opposition,  suffered  General  Phillips  to  take 
possession  of  Mount  Hope.  This  post  com- 
manded the  American  lines  in  a  great  de- 
gree, and  cut  off  their  communication  with 
Lake  George.  The  enemy  charged  the 
Americans,  on  this  occasion,  with  supineness 
and  want  of  vigor  ;  but  this  charge  seems 
not  wellfounded  ;  they  had  not  men  enough 
to  make  any  effectual  opposition  to  the 
powerful  force  which  threatened  to  enclose 
them.  In  the  meantime,  the  British  army 
proceeded  with  such  expedition  in  the  con- 
struction of  their  works,  the  bringing  up  of 
their  artillery,  stores  and  provisions,  and 
the  establishment  of  posts  and  communica- 
tions, that  by  the  fifth,  matters  were  so  far 
advanced  as  to  require  but  one  or  two  days 
more  to  completely  invest  the  posts  on  both 
sides  of  the  lake.  Mount  Defiance  had  also 
been  examined,  and  the  advantages  which 
it  presented  were  so  important,  that  it  had 
been  determined  to  take  possession  and 
erect  a  battery  there.    This  work,  though 


^atn 


r      ■ 

r 


fr 


96 


HISTORY   OP   LAKE   GEORGE. 


attended  with  extreme  difficulty  and  labor, 
had  been  carried  on  by  General  Phillips 
with  much  expedition  and  success.  A  road 
had  been  made  over  very  rough  ground  to 
the  top  of  the  mount,  and  the  enemy  were 
at  work  in  constructing  a  level  for  a  bat- 
tery and  transporting  their  cannon.  As 
soon  as  this  battery  should  be  ready  to  play, 
the  American  works  would  have  been  com- 
pletely invested  on  all  sides.  The  situation 
of  General  St.  Clair  was  now  very  critical. 
He  called  a  council  of  war  to  deliberate  on 
measures  to  be  taken.  He  informed  them 
that  their  whole  effective  number  was 
not  sufficient  to  man  one  half  of  the  works  ; 
that  as  the  whole  must  be  constantly  on 
duty,  it  would  be  impossible  for  them  to 
endure  the  fatigue  for  any  considerable 
length  of  time  ;  that  General  Schuyler,  who 
was  then  at  Fort  Edward,  had  not  sufficient 
forces  to  relieve  them,  and  that,  as  the 
enemy's  batteries  were  nearly  ready  to  open 
upon  them  and  the  place  would  be  com- 
pletely invested  in  twenty -four  hours — 
nothing  could  save  the  troops  but  an  imme- 


HISTORY   OF    LAKE    GEORGE. 


97 


diate  evacuation  of  the  posts.  It  was  pro- 
posed that  the  baggage  of  the  army,  with 
such  artillery,  stores  and  provisions  as  the 
necessity  of  the  occasion  would  admit, 
should  be  embarked  with  a  strong  detach- 
ment on  board  of  two  hundred  batteaux, 
and  despatched  under  convoy  of  five  armed 
galleys,  up  the  lake  to  Skeensborough, 
(Whitehall,)  and  that  the  main  body  of  the 
army  should  proceed  by  land,  taking  its 
route  on  the  road  to  Castleton,  which  was 
about  thirty  miles  southeast  of  Ticonderoga, 
and  join  the  boats  and  galleys  at  Skeens- 
borough. It  was  thought  necessary  to  keep 
the  matter  a  secret  till  the  time  should 
come  when  it  was  to  be  executed.  Hence, 
the  necessary  preparations  could  not  be 
made,  and  it  was  not  possible  to  prevent 
irregularity  and  disorder  in  the  different 
embarkations  and  movements  of  the  troops. 
About  two  o^clock,  in  the  morning  of 
July  the  sixth.  General  St.  Clair  left  Ti- 
conderoga, and  about  three,  the  troops  at 
Mount  Independence  were  put  in  motion. 
The  house  which  had  been  occupied  by 


0- 


9 


m^mmmmivm 


mm 


98 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  GEORGE. 


General  de  Fermoy  was,  contrary  to  orders, 
set  on  fire.  This  afforded  complete  infor- 
mation to  the  enemy  of  what  was  going  for- 
wardj  and  enabled  them  to  see  every  move- 
ment of  the  Americans  ;  at  the  same  time 
it  impressed  the  latter  with  such  an  idea  of 
discovery  and  danger  as  precipitated  them 
into  great  disorder. 

About  four  o'clock.  Col.  Francis  brought 
off  the  rear-guard  and  conducted  their  re- 
treat in  a  regular  manner  ;  and  soon  after, 
some  of  the  regiments,  through  the  exer- 
tions of  their  officers,  recovered  from  their 
confusion.  When  the  troops  arrived  at 
Hubbardton,  they  were  halted  for  nearly 
two  hours  and  the  rear-guard  was  increased 
by  many  who  did  not  at  first  belong  to  it, 
but  were  picked  up  on  the  road,  having 
been  unable  to  keep  up  with  their  regiments. 
The  rear-guard  was  here  put  under  the  com- 
mand of  Col.  Seth  Warner,  with  orders  to 
follow  the  army  as  soon  as  the  whole  came 
up,  and  to  halt  about  a  mile  and  a  half 
short  of  the  main  body.  The  army  then 
proceeded  to    Castleton,  about  six  miles 


e- 


nmiiilP 


HISTORY  OF  LAKE  GEORGE. 


99 


further.  Col.  Warner  with  the  rear-guard 
and  stragglers  remaining  at  Hubbardton. 

The  retreat  of  the  Americans  from  Ti- 
conderoga  and  Mount  Independence,  was 
no  sooner  perceived  by  the  British,  than 
General  Frazer  began  an  eager  pursuit 
with  his  brigade.  Major  General  Reidesel 
was  ordered  to  join  in  the  pursuit  with  the 
greater  part  of  his  Germans.  General 
Frazer  continued  the  pursuit  through  the 
day,  and  having  received  intelligence  that 
the  rear  of  the  American  army  was  at,  no 
great  distance,  ordered  his  men  to  lie  that 
night  upon  their  arms. 

On  July  7th,  at  five  in  the  morning,  he 
came  up  with  Col.  Warner  who  had  about 
1000  men.  The  British  advanced  boldly  to 
the  attack,  and  the  two  bodies  formed  with- 
in sixty  yards  of  each  other.  The  conflict 
was  fierce  and  bloody.  Col.  Francis  fell  at 
the  head  of  his  regiment  fighting  with 
great  gallantry.  Warner  was  so  well  sup- 
ported by  hisofl&cers  and  men,  that  the 
assailants  broke  and  gave  way.  They  soon, 
however,    recovered    from  their  disorder, 


npn 


P- 


100 


HISTORY    OF    LAKE    GEORGE. 


formed  again  and  charged  the  Americans 
with  the  bayonet,  when  they,  in  their  turn, 
were  put  into  disorder ;  these,  however, 
rallied  and  returned  to  the  charge,  and  the 
issue  of  the  battle  became  dubious.  At 
that  moment.  Gen.  Reidesel  appeared  with 
the  advance  party  of  his  Germans.  These 
being  led  into  action,  soon  decided  the  for- 
tune of  the  day,  and  the  Americans  had  to 
retreat.  The  loss  in  this  action  was  very 
considerable  on  the  American  side.  Col. 
Hale,  who  had  not  brought  his  regiment, 
which  consisted  of  militia,  inLo  action, 
although  ordered  so  to  do,  in  attempting  to 
escape  by  iiight,  fell  in  with  an  inconsidera- 
ble party  of  the  enemy,  and  surrendered 
himself  and  a  number  of  his  men  prisoners. 
In  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners,  the  Amer- 
icans lost  in  this  action  three  hundred  and 
twenty-four  men,  and  the  British  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty- three  in  killed  and  wounded. 


M- 


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_JO^(iy(3&^rC}^ 


CHAPTER  TWELFTH. 


And  80,  without  more  circumstance  at  all ; 

I  hold  it  fit  that  we  shake  hands  and  part. 

Shakspfare. 


A  WORD  AT  Parting. 


.1 


I 


^.m§)^  OOD  NATURED  READER  : — It  is  with 
^«#ino  small  degree  of  regret  that 
HIk'm^  necessity  obliges  me  to  comply 
j^jg^g^with  the  requirement  which  the 
quotation  at  the  heading  of  this  chapter  so 
appropriately  implies.  Having  made  my 
promise  good,  associating  only  with  you  as 
the  viewless  spirit  of  a  kind  informer,  I 
must  bid  you  an  affectionate  farewell ;  not 
without  offering  such  words  at  parting  as 
may  soften  the  asperities  of  criticism,  or  if 
1  dare  so  far  flatter  mvself,  rebuke  the  zeal 


■ffUl'- 


102 


HISTORY    OP    LAKE    GEOllGE. 


of  tlioso  most  emulous.  Faulty  as  I  know 
this  little  work  is,  I  trust  from  its  genuine- 
ness and  regard  to  truth,  that  the  arrows  of 
criticism  may  fall  impoten.tly  upon  it,  and 
that  the  wide  spreading  mantle  of  charity 
may  cover  all  serious  defects. 

I  know  not  how  others  may  feel,  but  it 
appears  to  me  in  this  leave-taking,  that  it 
requires  no  little  nerve  to  disperse  all  the 
imaginary  personages  with  which  I  have 
communed.  There  are  airy  forms  which 
float  on  silken  pinions  when  thus  engaged, 
who  whisper  in  such  captivating  tones  that 
the  communion  becomes  the  more  endearing 
from  its  own  ideal  existence. 

The  best  wish  that  I  can  offer  you  at 
parting,  is,  lie,alth,  happiness  and  prosper- 
ity, with  the  hope  of  another  re-union. 


rn'mLi 


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